Push Press Vs Overhead Press (Which Is Better For Delts?)

Push Press Vs Overhead Press (Which One Should You Do?)

It’s easy to get push press and overhead press confused, so here’s a quick guide on which is most beneficial depending on your goals: 

Strength Gains

Both push presses and overhead presses will help to increase your strength. Push presses involve your whole body and are a power exercise. This means you'll feel the benefit in your whole body, but less acutely.

If you want to make focused strength gains, then the overhead press is best because it isolates your deltoids, shoulders, and upper back. This forces them to work harder and makes them noticeably stronger.  

If you want to improve your overall physicality and functionality, then you're better with a push press, but if you want to really target your upper body and build your strength, then you should go for an overhead press.  

Related Article - Overhead Press Vs Bench Press

Hypertrophy 

Hypertrophy refers to the increase in muscle size or muscle mass. This is generally caused by your body working hard to overcome a problem and the muscle growing as a result.

A push press will stimulate hypertrophy with the explosive upwards movement and the controlled negative on the way down. An overhead press will also lead to hypertrophy because of the controlled movement focused on your upper body.  

If your goal is hypertrophy, then the overhead press is slightly more beneficial. However, performing a mix of push presses and overhead presses in one set is the best way to grow larger muscles more quickly.  

Fat Loss 

Fat loss is caused when your heart starts to beat fast and your metabolic rate increases. This usually occurs when you're pushing yourself to the limit, and you'll burn fat with both overhead presses and push presses. The push press movement involves a more significant number of muscles across your body, which generally means your body is working harder.

As a result, the push press helps to increase your metabolic rate greater than the overhead press, and it will burn more fat. If your goal is to lose fat, both exercises will be beneficial, but the push press is the best option.  

Safety 

The overhead press is a fairly simple exercise. You only need to focus your effort on moving the barbell up and down in a controlled way, and once you get used to the movement, it's easy to perform with very little risk of injury.

In contrast, the push press is a more complicated movement because you have to engage your whole body. The shift from lower body to upper body can make it more challenging to coordinate, and it’s easier to strain or injure yourself with the movement.  

If you take it slow and limit the weight when you first start out, you should be able to perform both exercises safely, but the overhead press is definitely the safer option.   

Ease of Learning 

The overhead press is really simple to learn and only involves one main movement up and down. You can get used to the overhead press motion with a barbell very quickly, and it's easy even for beginners.

The push press involves some coordinated movement with your upper and lower body, which can be more challenging at first. Getting the timing right for the squat down and press upwards takes some getting used to, and you need to allow more time to be able to do it properly.  

If you’re new to weightlifting, then the overhead press will be easier to perform, and you might be best starting there and then building up to push presses.  

Variety 

Both overhead presses and push presses offer some variety. They can be performed with kettlebells, dumbbells, barbells, or other weights. They can also be performed single-handed or with both hands.

However, push presses rely on the movement of your body, so they can't be performed on cable machines or other equipment, which limits this movement. Push presses are also full-body exercises that work your upper and lower body, which means they can’t be performed seated or on the floor.  

There are some variations on a standard push press, but you're better off with an overhead press if you want greater variety.  

Read Also - Kettlebells Vs Barbells For Upper Body Exercises

For Weightlifting 

Weightlifting is all about lifting as heavy as possible. It’s often only 1 or 2 reps of a very heavy load rather than multiple reps of a lighter weight. You can lift more with a push press because you're using your whole body to perform the movement, and the momentum helps to drive the barbell upwards.

In contrast, the overhead press takes all the momentum out of it and focuses it all on your upper body strength. You can generally lift 20-40% more weight with a push press compared to an overhead press. Push presses are often performed in weightlifting competitions, and if you're a serious weightlifter, then you're best with this exercise.   

Read More - Powerlifting Vs Weightlifting

For Bodybuilding 

Bodybuilders perform a lot of similar exercises to weightlifters, but they have a different overall goal. For them, it’s all about muscle growth and building an enlarged physique that shows off the hypertrophy in the muscles.

The explosive movement in the push press can lead to muscle development, but the controlled movement of the overhead press is better for achieving the desired result. This is because the effort is focused on the upper body and the consistent tension throughout the exercise leads to greater muscle mass.  

Also Check Out - Bodybuilding Vs CrossFit For Strength

Push Press Exercises Explained  

A push press exercise involves using your body's momentum to launch the barbell over your head. It's a full-body exercise that works your glutes, core, pecs, triceps, deltoids, quads, and lower back muscles in one movement. This helps to improve your overall strength and physicality and is often used by advanced lifters as an effective compound exercise.  

To perform a push press, you’ll need a barbell loaded with weight plates. Start by holding it with both hands at shoulder height, bend your knees slightly, and then push upwards through your legs, swinging the barbell up until your arms are outstretched above you. Pause for a moment, and then lower it back down to the starting position.  

The key difference between a push press and an overhead press is that you use your momentum to help press the barbell. This means you can lift a heavier load because your whole body supports the exercise. It’s more advanced than the overhead press and often used in weightlifting competitions.  

Further Reading - Barbell Vs Dumbbell Shoulder Press

Pros And Cons Of Doing Push Press Exercises 

Overhead Press Exercises Explained  

The overhead press focuses the effort on your upper body. It targets your shoulders, deltoids, pecs, triceps, and upper back. It involves pressing the barbell up over your head but in a much more controlled way, focusing the effort on your upper body muscles to keep it controlled throughout. This helps you develop a strong upper body and large muscles around your shoulder and upper back.  

To perform an overhead press, you’ll need a barbell with some weights on it. Start with the barbell at shoulder height and press it directly upwards until your arms are almost fully extended above you. Pause for a second, and lower back down to starting position.  

This is a much more controlled and less explosive movement that isolates specific muscles to build strength in those areas. However, it doesn't involve your lower body, so you won’t get the same benefits to your legs or core, and it has to be performed with slightly lighter weights. The overhead press is often performed by bodybuilders as they prefer to have control of the bar throughout the movement. 

Other Training Options - Best Overhead Press Alternatives  

Pros And Cons Of Doing Overhead Press Exercises 

Frequently Asked Push and Overhead Press Questions

What is a free weight push press? 

A free weight push press is a push press that is performed with any kind of free weights. This could be dumbbells, kettlebells, or the classic barbell.  

Does overhead press help with pullups? 

Yes, an overhead press will help to develop your upper back, shoulders, and arms so that pullups are easier to perform.  

How much weight should I be able to press overhead? 

The average beginner can overhead press 100-120 pounds, but this will quickly improve if you train regularly.