Barbell shoulder press, advice please

[Wyllis]

I know that when you do seated dumbell shoulder presses you should use a seat just short of verticle.

I was wondering when doing barbell shoulder presses should the seat have a verticle back or one just short of verticle like with the dumbell shoulder press.

 

[bignate73]

its up to you.
anytime you go less than vertical you direct the forces differently down your spine. i do mine either standing or for dbells, seated with NO back. forces more muscles to work for stability.

 

[scotty green]

I like to do mine with just a slight incline so I don't arch my back, but really its whats comfortable to you, that goes for BB or DB

 

[sysopt]

Which ever is more comfy.

 

[Y_lifter]

I find that the vertical seat forces me to use all shoulder and no chest.
As the bench goes a little past vertical, I tend to employ more chest in the lift

 

[gymtime]

For behind the neck shoulder press (bar), I'm on a vertical bench, but I lean slightly forward and arch my back. I've done it this way for years because it's the most comfortable for me. Is this bad?

 

[DanielBishop]

I find if I'm completely verticle I come too close to bumping my chin with the bar.... and therefore I get some shoulder joint pain from holding the bar too far in front. Luckily my gym has a seat which leans back only a few degrees, so it's practically verticle but enough so I don't lose my nose.

Just make sure it feels natural for you.... your tendons and ligaments will line up in the natural way, and it's not good to be pressing outside the natural plane of motion.

 

[sysopt]

I wouldn't suggest shoulder presses behind the neck. There's a better range of motion in front and probably less dangerous, not too mention less akward.