I’d like people’s opinions on behind the neck shoulder presses vs. shoulder presses in front of the neck. Given that behind the neck presses are more difficult (at least in my experience), can I assume they are a better mass builder?
They are a very good mass builder. However, you do increase the risk slightly of injuring your rotator cuffs. Don’t start out extreme heavy on these of you are going to do them until you have the strength and form to keep from getting in trouble with them.
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[quote]Lorne wrote:
I’d like people’s opinions on behind the neck shoulder presses vs. shoulder presses in front of the neck. Given that behind the neck presses are more difficult (at least in my experience), can I assume they are a better mass builder?[/quote]
I prefer the movement from the front as I can control the weight better allowing me to use more weight, so for me, I get better results. My training partner however gets better results with behind the neck presses. Both work, it is just a matter of preference.
In front of the neck recruits the clavicular aspects of the pecs.
Behind the neck removes them from the effort and targets the anterior deltoids more.
Pressing from behind the neck is an injury waiting to happen.Just watch someone do it and see how they manipulate their neck out of its optimum alignment to do the lift. Front pressing is much safer but do not bring the weight too low or you could run into rotator cuff problems. Dumbells to the side are safer than both of them.
I perfer to go heavier with the front press, and then lightin the load preform some behind the neck presses. I’ve had shoulder injuries in the past so I’m always a little more careful with the shoulders but haven’t had problems when preforming sets in this fashion.
[quote]Avoids Roids wrote:
Pressing from behind the neck is an injury waiting to happen.Just watch someone do it and see how they manipulate their neck out of its optimum alignment to do the lift. Front pressing is much safer but do not bring the weight too low or you could run into rotator cuff problems. Dumbells to the side are safer than both of them.[/quote]
Gotta agree with this one.
Also, I don’t think bringing in the clavicular portion of the pec is all that bad, you will be able to move more weight, and more weight means more mass. Either way you are not going to isolate the delts with a compound movement, too many other muscles involved.
[quote]cajunzj wrote:
I perfer to go heavier with the front press, and then lightin the load preform some behind the neck presses. I’ve had shoulder injuries in the past so I’m always a little more careful with the shoulders but haven’t had problems when preforming sets in this fashion.[/quote]
That’s pretty much how I do it too. Though, after weighted front presses, I remove all the weight. Then I lift just the bar, fast and furious behind the neck, until I get a good pump in my shoulders.
Yes, I still believe in the pump.
For you guys who have had injuries with the BTN press-how good is your shoulder flexibility?
Can you do a snatch-grip overhead squat? Jerk-grip?
[quote]Ross Hunt wrote:
For you guys who have had injuries with the BTN press-how good is your shoulder flexibility?
Can you do a snatch-grip overhead squat? Jerk-grip?[/quote]
I don’t think I’ve actually had an injury from BTN press, but I’ve had my fair share of sports related injuries, and I’ve noticed that BTN pressing aggravates those old injuries.
I can’t say I’ve really focused on snatch grip overhead squats or jerk-grip. Not really my thing. Are you doing them to train for a lifting comp or just as part of your regular program?
It’s a good exersize IF you have the flexability. Keep the weight light enough to maintain strict control and stop lowering at about mid head height. Using a wider (i.e. snatch) grip will also help protect the shoulder capsule. If in doubt or you feel pain. STOP doing them.
[quote]Modi wrote:
I can’t say I’ve really focused on snatch grip overhead squats or jerk-grip. Not really my thing. Are you doing them to train for a lifting comp or just as part of your regular program?[/quote]
I do them for comp.
Of course, I don’t squat-jerk, so the jerk-grip ohsq is just a general shoulder strength exercise for me.
In my experience, snatch-grip presses and push-presses place a greater strain on my shoulder joints than the corresponding jerk-grip exercises with proportional weights.
Actually, I notice that PBNs help my shoulders feel better (although not while I’m actually doing them).
Benching grinds them down, and PBNs help keep them healthy. Shoulder flexibility is important. If you can’t press behind your neck reasonably comfortably, you probably need to work on getting a little more flexible up there instead of badmouthing the lift.
I’d also say Pressing in front should lead more directly to mass increases because of the potential for significantly higher loading.
[quote]Ramo wrote:
Actually, I notice that PBNs help my shoulders feel better (although not while I’m actually doing them).
Benching grinds them down, and PBNs help keep them healthy. Shoulder flexibility is important. If you can’t press behind your neck reasonably comfortably, you probably need to work on getting a little more flexible up there instead of badmouthing the lift.
I’d also say Pressing in front should lead more directly to mass increases because of the potential for significantly higher loading. [/quote]
Why do you feel that PBN’s help keep you shoulders healthy? Are you talking about being flexible enough to do them, or that actually doing them makes them healthier?
[quote]Ramo wrote:
Actually, I notice that PBNs help my shoulders feel better (although not while I’m actually doing them).
Benching grinds them down, and PBNs help keep them healthy. Shoulder flexibility is important. If you can’t press behind your neck reasonably comfortably, you probably need to work on getting a little more flexible up there instead of badmouthing the lift.
I’d also say Pressing in front should lead more directly to mass increases because of the potential for significantly higher loading. [/quote]
A few years ago, I had pain in both shoulders that would not seem to go away. I laid off any overhead and supine presses for almost 3 months and still no relief. One day I decided to go ahead and and do BTN presses to see if that would help. I started with just the bar and slowly added weight, doing plenty of reps. It hurt like hell at first but started to feel better. The next day almost all my pain was gone and have stayed that way for the most part. I don’t suggest this approach but it did help me.
[quote]TornadoTommy wrote:
Ramo wrote:
Actually, I notice that PBNs help my shoulders feel better (although not while I’m actually doing them).
Benching grinds them down, and PBNs help keep them healthy. Shoulder flexibility is important. If you can’t press behind your neck reasonably comfortably, you probably need to work on getting a little more flexible up there instead of badmouthing the lift.
I’d also say Pressing in front should lead more directly to mass increases because of the potential for significantly higher loading.
A few years ago, I had pain in both shoulders that would not seem to go away. I laid off any overhead and supine presses for almost 3 months and still no relief. One day I decided to go ahead and and do BTN presses to see if that would help. I started with just the bar and slowly added weight, doing plenty of reps. It hurt like hell at first but started to feel better. The next day almost all my pain was gone and have stayed that way for the most part. I don’t suggest this approach but it did help me.[/quote]
This has been EXACTLY my experience…the key I think is starting slow, keeping the volume up, and not pushing to failure.
I don’t know for sure why this works; but a lot of people are too tight up there…PBNs just loosen things up a little.
[quote]Lorne wrote:
I’d like people’s opinions on behind the neck shoulder presses vs. shoulder presses in front of the neck. Given that behind the neck presses are more difficult (at least in my experience), can I assume they are a better mass builder?[/quote]
sometimes things are more difficult because of leverage, I use the one thats safer and can push more weight. coughfrontcough