Elbow angle on overhead presses
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URL: http://www.nasgaweb.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14985
Printed Date: 3/26/26 at 9:49pm
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Topic: Elbow angle on overhead presses
Posted By: thegnome
Subject: Elbow angle on overhead presses
Date Posted: 1/10/12 at 2:49am
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Looked back at some videos and noticed that on overhead movements I tend to angle my elbows out on heavier weights. I'm talking about while in the rack position which leads to them being angled more widely when I start the press. Does anyone have any thoughts for elbow/arm angle on the overhead movements? Any difference in placement for the different overhead movements (Press vs. Push Press vs. jerk)? Links to pics/videos would be great. Thanks. ------------- Andrew G Vada a bordo CAZZO!!!! |
Replies:
Posted By: Alan H
Date Posted: 1/10/12 at 5:48am
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All I know is that when I push big, in a strict OHP, my back arches pretty seriously and that is starting to worry me. Elbows? clueless. Gee. Maybe I should video myself doing some OHP's. ------------- Alan Hebert Geezer-In-Training |
Posted By: CHAD
Date Posted: 1/10/12 at 6:48am
| For pressing your forearms should be perpendicular to the floor. Jerks are different from presses. With a jerk you need to get to lockout as fast as possible. It's about launching the bar and sticking the landing. You shouldn't feel yourself pressing the bar up. |
Posted By: thegnome
Date Posted: 1/10/12 at 6:53am
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Should the elbows be different though? By angle I mean should they be more in front or to flared out. I'll look for an example.... ------------- Andrew G Vada a bordo CAZZO!!!! |
Posted By: C. Smith
Date Posted: 1/10/12 at 7:55am
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Alan - if your back arch is starting to worry you...then don't do that when you press. Easy. Andrew - pics or examples needed. ------------- |
Posted By: thegnome
Date Posted: 1/10/12 at 12:46pm
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Sorry, here, this should help.
I missed this attempt. Look at the position of my elbows/forearms. See what I mean? Shouldn't I be set up different there? and if so is it the same for a Push vs strict, or jerk.
http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2871347260051574359zWFklt" rel="nofollow">  ------------- Andrew G Vada a bordo CAZZO!!!! |
Posted By: CHAD
Date Posted: 1/10/12 at 4:51pm
| If that's a jerk, the elbows could be higher. Relax the shoulders, the elbows, the wrists. Pressing? Forearms should be up and down. You're sort of riding the in between, which is why I think you're questioning it. |
Posted By: dl_buffy
Date Posted: 1/11/12 at 1:31am
Overhead press used to be an olympic lift. As people started pushing heavier and heavier they all started arching back, because this activated more pec in the press. Eventually when they were just doing standing bench presses it was removed as an olympic lift.
(I read that once upon a time, so hope it's still accurate.)
In otherwords, focus on what you want to train and not the weight you are pressing. The more you arch the more you are getting pec involvement. I didn't read anything about injuries increasing because of the arch.
As to the other question, I start my push presses w my elbows neutral. They are not in front and not flared out to the side. Then I push up and through to a lock out with my elbows rotated in. This is the form that does not aggrevate my shoulder at all and seems to hit the muscles well. ------------- --------- I have very few social interaction skills, so I just throw stuff instead. |
Alan H wrote:Posted By: C. Smith
Date Posted: 1/11/12 at 1:42am
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^^ http://startingstrength.com/articles/olympic_press_starr.pdf" rel="nofollow - http://startingstrength.com/articles/olympic_press_starr.pdf ------------- |
Posted By: dl_buffy
Date Posted: 1/11/12 at 2:48am
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Amazing article. Truely a great piece of writing that addresses the main point but also gives you tons of lifting stuff to think about. Thanks!!! ------------- --------- I have very few social interaction skills, so I just throw stuff instead. |