dumbell shoulder press, how do you....

turbine5 · 07-06-2005, 11:36 AM

Hi, was doing shoulder press last night with dumbells and I was wondering how other people get the dumbells up to their shoulders to start pressing (for heavy dumbells, which I guess is relative)? Usually I sit a bit forward from the back rest, rest the dumbells on my knees, then "kick" each dumbell up individually, then move my ass back on the seat so that my back is not angled and I won't cheat with my chest....what do you do? is there an easier way?

cheers

MyK · 07-06-2005, 11:44 AM

i kick the weights up individually for benchpress, but for shoulders try kicking them up together.

camarosuper6 · 07-06-2005, 12:02 PM

have someone help put them over your shoulders and then get behind you and assist you on the first rep. You will eventually get to a point where its virtually impossible to get heavy dumbells from your knees to over your shoulders...

Witmaster · 07-06-2005, 12:23 PM

My gym actually designs thier own equipment. They have a Dumbbell Shoulder Press rack that has racks placed just above shoulder height. The rack slides forward for ease of (weight) removal and then retracts back clear from you while you work your reps. It's a brilliant design!

**P-funk** · 07-06-2005, 12:25 PM

I stand infront of the bench I am about to sit on and I clean the DBs up to my shoulders. Then I just sit down on the seat and press from there. But usually I don't have this problem since I rarely ever sit when doing presses.

turbine5 · 07-06-2005, 01:44 PM

thanks for the advice everyone,

Quote:

Originally Posted by camarosuper6

You will eventually get to a point where its virtually impossible to get heavy dumbells from your knees to over your shoulders...

hmmm, unfortunately I've been stuck where I am now for a while but I hope I will reach that point some day

Island Roots · 07-06-2005, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Witmaster

My gym actually designs thier own equipment. They have a Dumbbell Shoulder Press rack that has racks placed just above shoulder height. The rack slides forward for ease of (weight) removal and then retracts back clear from you while you work your reps. It's a brilliant design!

Sounds interesting; I'd like to see a picture of that.

Witmaster · 07-06-2005, 01:56 PM

Here it is. You'll notice the silver pistons down below. The racks slide forward for you to lift the weight off and then auto-retract back out of your way. They also have the same design for inclines and Bench Press.

turbine5 · 07-06-2005, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Witmaster

Here it is. You'll notice the silver pistons down below. The racks slide forward for you to lift the weight off and then auto-retract back out of your way. They also have the same design for inclines and Bench Press.

wow, that's a great design, it seems to take a lot out of me to get the weights up, probably worth a couple reps if I didn't have to do that before the press.

Randy · 07-06-2005, 02:53 PM

In my opinion when you reach a level where dumbells are to heavy for you to hold up, then its time to try a safer approach. For me I use my universal gym for shoulder presses, as well as cable and barbell presses. Here's an example of a barbell shoulder press. You just use a high rack to hold the barbell like is provided here on this smith machine. Makes for a much safer lift than dumbells. But some like to live life on the dangerous side..

turbine5 · 07-06-2005, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy

In my opinion when you reach a level where dumbells are to heavy for you to hold up, then its time to try a safer approach.

its not that the weights are hard to hold up, its difficult to get them from knees to the shoulders for the start of the press. for flat dumbell press its sometimes hard to get the dumbells from the floor to the knees...

Randy · 07-06-2005, 04:19 PM

What I do in those cases is swing the dumbells into position. That has always worked well for me. But if they get unmanageable then as I mentioned selecting another exercise might be best.

Phred · 07-06-2005, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-funk

I stand infront of the bench I am about to sit on and I clean the DBs up to my shoulders. Then I just sit down on the seat and press from there. But usually I don't have this problem since I rarely ever sit when doing presses.

Same here, I clean them. There will be a point in time when the DBs will too heavy, but that is a ways off I am sure. :-)

**CowPimp** · 07-07-2005, 01:35 AM

I clean the dumbbells into place. I do my DB overhead pressing while standing. I used to clean them into place when I did them sitting too. I would just clean, then sit with the dumbbells in the proper position.

ChrisROCK · 07-07-2005, 10:39 AM

I also put the weights on my knees and kinda kick them up to the pressing start position.

The Monkey Man · 07-07-2005, 10:57 AM

If you can't pick up the DB's...
Get them set into position...
Do a heavy set...
Let them down without dropping them...
Shake, cry, and lose your balance, getting them back to the rack...

You are a puss, and need to use lighter weights for your set

TJ Cline · 07-07-2005, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monkey Man

If you can't pick up the DB's...
Get them set into position...
Do a heavy set...
Let them down without dropping them...
Shake, cry, and lose your balance, getting them back to the rack...

You are a puss, and need to use lighter weights for your set

Wow you're actually right for a change.

I don't know what you guys are pressing, but I use 90Lb DB's for seated press and can curl 70Lb DB's for reps so it isn't a problem at all for me,,,,just a cheat curl and I'm ready to go.

turbine5 · 07-07-2005, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForemanRules

I don't know what you guys are pressing, but I use 90Lb DB's for seated press and can curl 70Lb DB's for reps so it isn't a problem at all for me,,,,just a cheat curl and I'm ready to go.

hmm, yeah but the point of this exercise is the pressing motion right? I just think that getting the weight set up to the start position is difficult, likely is costing me a couple reps, and I was wondering what others do...

cleaning the dumbells while standing, then sitting in possition sounds like a good idea though....

turbine5 · 07-07-2005, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monkey Man

You are a puss, and need to use lighter weights for your set

while I doubt I am a puss

...I think part of the problem is differences in relative (?) strength across my muscles. presses seem to be easier for me relative to other exercises ... my bi's are relatively weaker, so I cannot cheat curl the weights up as easily as foreman...

The Monkey Man · 07-07-2005, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForemanRules

Wow you're actually right for a change

THANK YOU

TJ Cline · 07-07-2005, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monkey Man

THANK YOU

I clicked on it, then realized my volume was off,,,,but I turned it on just in time to hear that angry chick tell me off........AHHHHH so wonderful.

She sounds like she has allot of problems..

kicka19 · 07-07-2005, 04:40 PM

when i do my incline DB press i ussally hike the wieght up and rest them on my pecs than swing them into position

**P-funk** · 07-07-2005, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForemanRules

Wow you're actually right for a change.

I don't know what you guys are pressing, but I use 90Lb DB's for seated press and can curl 70Lb DB's for reps so it isn't a problem at all for me,,,,just a cheat curl and I'm ready to go.

I am terrible at curls. I can't even get close to curling what I press.

The Monkey Man · 07-07-2005, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-funk

I am terrible at curls. I can't even get close to curling what I press.

I find it hard to believe the great and powerful "P"
would set up one or two spotters for some laboratory style
heavy DB press set. Just to see if you could get 1 or 2 reps,
or look tough hoisting up 10-20 lb bigger DB's!?!?!?

**P-funk** · 07-07-2005, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monkey Man

I find it hard to believe the great and powerful "P"
would set up one or two spotters for some laboratory style
heavy DB press set. Just to see if you could get 1 or 2 reps,
or look tough hoisting up 10-20 lb bigger DB's!?!?!?

huh???

i don't have spotters?

Like I said, I clean the weight into place. 1-2 reps?

The Monkey Man · 07-07-2005, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-funk

huh???

i don't have spotters?

Like I said, I clean the weight into place. 1-2 reps?

You've never seen this spectacle in joint demolition!???

07-06-2005, 11:36 AM	#1
turbine5 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lotusland Posts: 83	dumbell shoulder press, how do you.... Hi, was doing shoulder press last night with dumbells and I was wondering how other people get the dumbells up to their shoulders to start pressing (for heavy dumbells, which I guess is relative)? Usually I sit a bit forward from the back rest, rest the dumbells on my knees, then "kick" each dumbell up individually, then move my ass back on the seat so that my back is not angled and I won't cheat with my chest....what do you do? is there an easier way? cheers

07-06-2005, 12:02 PM	#3
camarosuper6 Back Home In SOCAL Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: California Posts: 3,354	have someone help put them over your shoulders and then get behind you and assist you on the first rep. You will eventually get to a point where its virtually impossible to get heavy dumbells from your knees to over your shoulders...
	"TOLERANCE is the virtue of a man without convictions" G.K.Chesterton Boot Shine and Polish $15. New Uniforms: $250 New gun and holster: $450 Looking like a stud in uniform: Priceless Girl: Me and this new guy are getting kinda chummy. Me: Good chummy? Like friends forever? Girl: Ya Me: Or Chummy like, spank my ass chummy?

07-06-2005, 12:23 PM	#4
Witmaster Esprit de Corps Elite Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,973 Photos: 6	My gym actually designs thier own equipment. They have a Dumbbell Shoulder Press rack that has racks placed just above shoulder height. The rack slides forward for ease of (weight) removal and then retracts back clear from you while you work your reps. It's a brilliant design!
	NEVER write a check with your mouth that you can't cash with your ASS!! I can run faster mad than you can scared "All right brain... I don't like you and you don't like me. So let's just do this and I'll get back to killing you with beer" ~ Homer Simpson

07-06-2005, 12:25 PM	#5
P-funk Patrick Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 30,629	I stand infront of the bench I am about to sit on and I clean the DBs up to my shoulders. Then I just sit down on the seat and press from there. But usually I don't have this problem since I rarely ever sit when doing presses.
	http://pwtraining.blogspot.com/.....come and see what is on my mind! Ivonne's Blog on Health and Wellness! Looking for online training/coaching/consulting? --> Optimum Sports Performance "In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the experts there are few." -Buddha's Little Instruction Book

07-06-2005, 02:53 PM	#10
Randy Woof! Woof! Woof! Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: California Posts: 7,859 Photos: 4	In my opinion when you reach a level where dumbells are to heavy for you to hold up, then its time to try a safer approach. For me I use my universal gym for shoulder presses, as well as cable and barbell presses. Here's an example of a barbell shoulder press. You just use a high rack to hold the barbell like is provided here on this smith machine. Makes for a much safer lift than dumbells. But some like to live life on the dangerous side..
	- O F F I C I A L . L I N K . M A S T E R - Maintains a Reference to all Gopros P/RR/S Links Gopros latest routines: CLICK HERE Lift like a Chicken Look Like a Chicken

07-06-2005, 11:44 AM	#2
MyK Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: consumerville! Posts: 10,201 Photos: 1	i kick the weights up individually for benchpress, but for shoulders try kicking them up together.

07-06-2005, 04:19 PM	#12
Randy Woof! Woof! Woof! Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: California Posts: 7,859 Photos: 4	What I do in those cases is swing the dumbells into position. That has always worked well for me. But if they get unmanageable then as I mentioned selecting another exercise might be best.
	- O F F I C I A L . L I N K . M A S T E R - Maintains a Reference to all Gopros P/RR/S Links Gopros latest routines: CLICK HERE Lift like a Chicken Look Like a Chicken

07-07-2005, 01:35 AM	#14
CowPimp Fueled by Testosterone Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 15,428	I clean the dumbbells into place. I do my DB overhead pressing while standing. I used to clean them into place when I did them sitting too. I would just clean, then sit with the dumbbells in the proper position.
	The only time it's bad to feel the burn is when you're peeing... CowPimp Picks Up Heavy Shit MySpace YouTube Videos

07-07-2005, 10:39 AM	#15
ChrisROCK ///M Rider Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Southern NYS Posts: 793 Photos: 5	I also put the weights on my knees and kinda kick them up to the pressing start position.
	Maximus: "What we do in life, echoes in eternity." http://kandeecup.tripod.com/gif "Success does not necessarily mean advancement;... it refers to the accomplishment or sense of achievement one obtains from trying one's best... I...enjoy the process of become stronger and more muscular."

07-07-2005, 10:57 AM	#16
The Monkey Man Magical Apelikemenace Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 13,791 Photos: 35	If you can't pick up the DB's... Get them set into position... Do a heavy set... Let them down without dropping them... Shake, cry, and lose your balance, getting them back to the rack... You are a puss, and need to use lighter weights for your set
	Have Problems?... Chances are its due to overpopulation Save The Oceans, Save the Planet, Save Your Family, Save Yourself!

07-07-2005, 04:40 PM	#22
kicka19 the true playboy Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,778	when i do my incline DB press i ussally hike the wieght up and rest them on my pecs than swing them into position