I gave up completely on shoulder pressing movements!

[Macrofitter]

Instead I'm doing 2 variations of side laterals, first with dumbbells and additionally one cable or machine variation.

I hated shoulder presses in every shape or form, never felt anything in my delts (only traps and tris eventually) and didn't have the impression they'd contribute much or anything for shoulder development.

Opinions?

[Nether Animal]

In my experience it is the opposite. I never give up the seated overhead press.

[funk51]

got to do what works best for you. keep ego lifting to a minimum unless you are a powerlifter or weightlifter. and use the proper safety measures.

[El_Torro]

If you dont feel your shoulders working during overhead pressing, try this:

Do seated dumbell side laterals until failure... then without any rest use the same dumbells and start doing doing seated presses with them.

Everybody is stronger pressing than in doing side laterals but once you hit failure with the weight you use on the laterals those same dumbells will feel challenging for presses because you have pre fatigued them and now you will definitely feel your shoulders working.

I think this would be a better option than getting rid of pressing altogether.

[Dokey111]

Gave up overhead pressing a Long time ago...   

[njflex]

i find delts need higher reps for me 4-6 reps as heavy as i could stopped working long time ago,,switched to more higher reps or even tri sets and or drops esp lateral raises has done well for me...

[ratherbebig]

for overall shoulder development i reckon laterals and something for back of shoulders is more beneficial than presses as long as you are doing incline bench of some sort.

[njflex]

for overall shoulder development i reckon laterals and something for back of shoulders is more beneficial than presses as long as you are doing incline bench of some sort.

true,,also depending on angle you put on the incline you can vary that greatly and stress the delt higher o angle down to mid or lower for chest.

[The Scott]

I love it  when small men get together on these "bodybuilding" forums and discuss strategies on how to stay small.  Lol

Many of us have been at it longer than some here have been alive.  We have long realized that  "no pain - no gain" is not the way to go.  I cannot do shoulder presses and instead do as others here have said.  DB or cable laterals for several sets of 5 to 30 or so reps.  Plenty of warm up and a couple of working sets.   

It's the same with all of my exercises.  Even though we never thought it would happen, that "day" our parents told us about has come. 

[Thin Lizzy]

From a standpoint of leverage, side laterals might be the worst exercise, as evidenced by relatively little amount of weight you can use. Most of the time people go too heavy, putting a lot of stress on the shoulder joint, and end up injured.

I don't see them as a worthwhile exercise, as is the case with most isolation movements.

I do agree that shoulders respond better to higher reps. Basketball players tend to have good delts even though many don't lift. Why? Because they spend a lot of time with their arms raised and their delts flexed.

[Nether Animal]

I'm sorry but I can't sign off on your self delusion. Bodybuilding is for men. Big strong brave men. Like me.

The fact that you aren't banned yet has made me lose most of my already-dwindling hope for this board.

[NaturalWonder83]

Instead I'm doing 2 variations of side laterals, first with dumbbells and additionally one cable or machine variation.

I hated shoulder presses in every shape or form, never felt anything in my delts (only traps and tris eventually) and didn't have the impression they'd contribute much or anything for shoulder development.

Opinions?

then your mechanics are fucked up
If u have issues feeling the presses then your body is fucked up
Fix yourself or you'll prob injure yourself  eventually

Don't blame the exercise -it's not the exercise it's you

[The Scott]

I'm sorry but I can't sign off on your self delusion. Bodybuilding is for men. Big strong brave men. Like me.

Okay. 

[Skylge]

Since I gave up lateral raises too my shoulders (both with light damage) are doing much better, enabling me to work much harder with other excercises

[8 INCH not biceps]

Overhead presses is not need for shoulder development just do side and rear delts and you will be fine, cable and the side delt machine will give you great shoulders, this is not a movement to go heavy on go for the contraction and the burn that is what gives you capped delts.

[Irongrip400]

I only do them with lighter weight now, as they aggravate my back more than anything. Even when I tighten my abs while doing the movement, it never fails, the next day my back is on fire. I usually don't go over one plate each side now and do higher reps.

[Erik C]

If you dont feel your shoulders working during overhead pressing, try this:

Do seated dumbell side laterals until failure... then without any rest use the same dumbells and start doing doing seated presses with them.

Everybody is stronger pressing than in doing side laterals but once you hit failure with the weight you use on the laterals those same dumbells will feel challenging for presses because you have pre fatigued them and now you will definitely feel your shoulders working.

I think this would be a better option than getting rid of pressing altogether.

While I don't ever recommend doing any exercise to failure, in this case it makes some sense. It's not often, on this alleged bodybuilding website, that someone posts something really useful. Thank You!

[Mr Anabolic]

It's the laterals that create the width, not presses.  Years of heavy overhead pressing eventually ruins your shoulders.  

[Mr Anabolic]

While I don't ever recommend doing any exercise to failure, in this case it makes some sense. It's not often, on this alleged bodybuilding website, that someone posts something really useful. Thank You!

Disagree.  2x-3x drop set laterals to failure is the most effective delt exercise I've ever done.  They give you the caps.

[Erik C]

It's the laterals that create the width, not presses.  Years of heavy overhead pressing eventually ruins your shoulders.  

True, yet the presses after the laterals, will limit the weight that you can use, and still help the over all look. Just saying.

[Nether Animal]

It's the laterals that create the width, not presses.  Years of heavy overhead pressing eventually ruins your shoulders.  

Does this theory apply to natural lifters?

[Erik C]

Disagree.  2x-3x drop set laterals to failure is the most effective delt exercise I've ever done.  They give you the caps.

Well then, in this case we're not disagreeing!

[Erik C]

Does this theory apply to natural lifters?

I'm a natural lifter, so yes!

[The Scott]

Does this theory apply to natural lifters?

I would imagine so as there's no difference between a natural and a druggie except the drugs.  I cannot do shoulder presses without a great deal of pain.  Light weight laterals seem to work best for me. I tried one of those rear delt machines and it seemed just "okay" so I pretty much skip that one.

But maybe if I gave the rear delt machine a chance to work over a few months it might be beneficial.

[ratherbebig]

rear delt machine at my gym sucks, the resistance is/seems higher on the left side than the right.