Standing vertical press that builds shoulder size and exposes any weakness in your bracing.
How To
Rack the bar on your front delts with your elbows slightly ahead of the bar.
Squeeze your glutes and brace hard — the ribcage should not flare.
Press the bar up, moving your head back just enough to clear a straight path.
Finish with the bar stacked over mid-foot and your head through the window.
Watch Out
It turns the lift into a standing incline press and loads the lumbar spine.
A curved bar path wastes force. Move your head, not the bar.
Without a braced trunk you will leak force at the sticking point every time.
Coaching
Start each rep from a dead stop on the shoulders rather than bouncing out of the bottom.
If your shoulders pinch, try a slightly narrower grip or switch to dumbbells.
Press with your legs locked — save push-press variations for a dedicated power block.
Swap It Out
Same job, different equipment or difficulty. Any of these can replace the movement above.
Shoulders · Dumbbell
Upper Chest · Dumbbell