Best shoulder movement for size and strength, standing or seated / barbell or dumbell

[CobraUTAH]

I've been using the 5x5 routine and have made steady gains with the weight using seated barbell press for my core shoulder exercise. I stopped getting 5x5 at 145 and switched to 5x3 on the last three trips I'm now at 160 and it's getting tough to complete it all by myself. I use to do half reps and only go down until my elbows were at right angles but now since I started 5x5 I've been going clear to my clavicles, for the full motion. How can I keep the gains coming I feel like I'm rapidly approaching my limit for seated shoulder press. Should I switch to a standing push press for a while?

 

[jerkbox]

i might switch it up with some heavy dumbells if you are interested in size....push press is more of a dynamic overall strength/power movement

 

[CobraUTAH]

I hate just switching up exercises because I plateau, but should I try a 1RM, and then the following week switch to dumbbells. Is there anything wrong with standing presses either barbell or dumbbell? I figure you can keep much better form seated and it prevents legs from helping. Another concern with switching to dumbbells although they are a great alternative to the barbell when making increases as small as possible you can only jump from 40's to 45's etc so your actually increasing by ten pounds instead of 5 each time you go, I hate the idea of hitting another wall so quickly using dumbbells.

 

[Lord_Suston]

go back down in some weight try 5x5 with a barbell seated and work on the bottom portion of your lift. why cheat yourself? in the long run it doesn't help. get every rep with good form and then move up. no sacrifice in form.

 

[SofaGeorge]

Side raises give you bigger delts than pressing movements.

I know you won't believe me... because military presses feel like you are working harder... but try doing one armed side raises for you 5 x 5 for 8 weeks. You will never look back.

My typical delt routine is:

2 x 10 DB military press
2 x 10 Arnold press
5 x 5 one armed side raises
2 x 6 front raises
3 x 10 8 6 rear delt raises

 

[CobraUTAH]

Sofa, that sounds like a lot of volume for a 5x5 workout? Looks damn hard though. I've been doing seated barbell for the 5x5 and 2x10 with lateral raises and 3x10 with a rear delt movement on the cable crossover. I've done one arm raises before for sets of ten and never experienced more pain and difficulty.

 

[louden_swain]

For big strong delts, stick with all bar movements. Here is what I follow for a typical training session (exercises included)

1. Seated Barbell Presses - 1 x 8
2. Up Right Rows - 1 x 8
3. Barbell Shrugs - 1 x 8

I used to perform laterals, but I discovered that they did very little in putting on strength. . overload the delts with heavy weights.

 

[Exodus]

push press are incredible. i prefer the log, but they are hard to come by.

X

 

[Debaser]

Best shoulder movement IMO is the standing overhead press (not a push press). A seated press is great but this offers the benefits of learning to stabilize yourself.

Sofageorge that's basically saying that leg extensions will give you more growth than squats, and that flyes will give you more than bench presses. The press is a heavy compound movement. I don't see how doing tiny amounts of weight with laterals would offer the same kind of growth as a 200-400 lb press overhead.

 

[CobraUTAH]

Louden what is with all the single set eight rep exercises you do? Do you warm-up? Do you work the same muscle group just once a week?