So I took a video of my press today which I don’t do often and was a bit surprised at all the layback and that my heels were lifting up to the extent they were.
So so does anyone have suggestions on things I should be doing differently?
From what I recall, I don’t think there is anything inherently wrong about laying back during a press unless you are trying not to do a layback press. If you can’t lift the weight without lying back, then the weight is just too heavy. Maybe lower the weight to something you can press with just the hip thrust (press 2.0) or strict press (press 1.0) and titrate it up from there.
I’m not concerned about the layback, I was just surprised about it. I think the heals lifting is indicative of the bar path not staying over my center of balance, and costs me in not maintaining a firm interface with the ground. (Otherwise what’s the point of the non squishy lifting shoes?) But I’m unsure of any corrections to make.
And I don’t know what else I could be missing.
I’d watch Thrall’s video on how to press. One thing I’m noticing from this angle is your starting position - your elbows are behind the barbell. Get them in front of the barbell, imagine laying your triceps on your lats (Thrall’s cue is “tight armpits”). I don’t have a view from the front - but once you have your elbows in front of the bar, make sure your arms are perpendicular to the bar / vertical when viewed from the front - not angled.
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I agree with Squib - elbows should start in front of the bar. A couple of other things:
Gaze: pick a stable spot in front of you to focus on. It looks like you’re looking straight up at the ceiling.
Get under it: as soon as the bar passes your forehead, get under it and shove it straight up. You’re maintaining a really big layback for the latter part of the lift.
What “style” of press are you aiming for, if any?
Thanks for the pointers, I’ll be applying this stuff next week for sure.
Other than the shrug at the end, mostly, just getting the bar overhead. However, since I don’t intend to compete, the hip action of “2.0” never appealed to me because to me the whole point is to work the upper body, and relying on force production from the lower body for the movement seemed counter to that goal.
I’ve had pretty good success increasing my press in the past, but since I was doing the Press in the same spot as the Pin Squats I’d already recorded, and since The Bridge has fewer blocks/week than the 2 I’ve use the past couple years, resulting in slower gains, I thought I’d record it and put some focus on form (for once), with help from you guys.
I don’t find that the 2.0 hip action changes the upper body emphasis of the lift. It provides a little help out of the bottom and makes for a more dynamic movement. But hey, to each their own.
Good luck with the technique adjustments!
You should see a coach so you can learn how to press.
Wow that might sound kind of rude from his perspective…hmmm
Oh You should see a coach so you can learn to press most efficiently, it really helped me, only took a few minutes, and it can be really be hard to correct on your own.
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Let me add, that not only do I not wish to train to do press 2.0 due to the lower body involvement in producing the force to lift the bar, but decades of experience tells me that I am likely not cordinated enough to pull it off.
I shit you not, when I took my wife on salsa lessons back when we were dating in college, we discovered that: 1. I can step to a beat
2. I can clap to a beat
3. I can not step and clap to a beat at the same time. Period. And I paid for half a dozen lessons up front, so I kept trying, but couldn’t. So my motor moron self needs to stick to a movement pattern that requires less cordination than 2.0.
I have 2 SSCs a 45 minute drive away from me now that Jordan picked up and moved to Cally. A friend trained with one of them and says she ONLY coaches 2.0, the other I don’t know about. Maybe he can give me coaching that fits what I would need for this lift, maybe not. But dedicating the 1.5 hours of driving plus coaching time and the $ outlay would probably mean I’d concentrate on the lower body lifts with a coach. Especially since I’ve already managed to PR 172x3 on Press without learning how to do it as you say.
It looks like you aren’t locking out on a couple reps but it’s hard to tell. Regardless of how you start, I would make sure to finish in lockout every rep.
You can do the 2.0, if you saw an SSC it would probably take 10 minutes to learn.
The press, just like all the main lifts, is a full body exercise. If you doubt this, go ahead and try to do 172 sitting down.
Seeing a coach is definitely worth the money in my experience.
Especially if you’re just working on form and not programming you can get cleaned up in 1-2 sessions.
If you are doing it wrong then your “PR” is 173 for 0.
If however you are happy with your own way then why get feedback?
Disagree with basically everything you said, but this is the worst. This is SS acolyte BS at it’s best. The point of training is to get stronger. Doing the lift “correctly” is a means to facilitate that. It’s not the point of training.
There’s nothing dangerous about how Serack is pressing unless he’s not locking out – if it’s getting him stronger and it’s safe then he’s doing it “right.”
I’ve seen SSCs coach Press 1.0. Some of them do it just because. Others do it when their clients can’t “get” 2.0 in a reasonable amount of time. Which turns out to be more often than you’d think. Some even PREFER olympic or “1.5” over 2.0 and teach then from the gate.
I saw Michael Wolf for an in person training session and he basically said I had 25 min to get 2.0 done correctly and if I couldn’t he’d suggest I continue with 1.0. If doing a specific technique “properly” is getting in the way of making you stronger, it’s a bad technique (for you). Period.
You read a lot into my post that wasn’t there, but whatever, I’m sorry your so emotional about it, perhaps you should address those issues.
Good luck in your life and training!
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It begins.
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Calling someone disagreeing with you “emotional.” Classy. I bet the ladies love you.
I don’t think I read anything into your post. You made hyperbolic claims that are demonstrably false.
Today, 01:31 PM
Okay thank you for pointing that out you seem very angry but I’m glad your not being emotional.
I do indeed believe the OP can easily learn the correct form with a minimal amount of coaching but I could be wrong. I can’t dance and I learned to do the 2.0 in about 5 minutes. As I said I was basing it on my experience in getting coaching, I don’t claim to be an expert.
If you had made a point instead of attacking me and calling me names I would have discussed it.
Your responses are exactly what makes me not participate in forums.
Good luck with your life and training!
I’ve enjoyed seeing your contributions to the community until this one line. Perhaps your intent was constructive, but this is not what you accomplished, as it demeaned 2 years of effort and accomplishments.
Another time when there is less drama being spewed about I hope to hear more from you such as how you got into such an interesting profession, and your own strength goals and the road you traveled to atain your accomplishments to this point.
Please be at peace, friend.
My apologies for how it sounded to you, I didn’t have e a harmful intent. I can be short or blunt at times and I was trying to make a suggestion based on my own experience. I was wrong in presenting it that way if it hurt your feelings. I’m older and I work with watches all day not people. If I am around to make comments in the future I will try to be more empathetic. I’m not minimizing your accomplishments.
Thank you for your kind, mature and helpful response.
I can do without the drama for sure. I certainly don’t think you need anyone to defend you, you’re more than capable of defending yourself. Anyway peace to you as well. I’m not a peaceful person but I have achieved a place of peace after many years and I hope to stay there
Keep getting stronger.
Morgan
And if you had said something constructive instead of “learn to Press” and “none of your reps count,” I wouldn’t have said anything.
And if you had manged to hold off on the dismissive “Ok, Bye!” I might try to engage. But it’s clear you’re not interested, so I’ll leave you be.
I’ll be here for the foreseeable future if you ever want to.
I will see you out on the playground after the bell rings sucker.