<\/p>\n
The barbell overhead press is a truth teller. There\u2019s no bench, minimal assistance from the lower body if pressing strict, and nothing to lean on once the bar leaves the shoulders.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s you versus the barbell.<\/p>\n
However, the barbell\u2019s greatest strength (stability) can also be its greatest drawback: it locks both hands into a fixed position. That stability is great for strength<\/a> and size, but it also limits your wrists\u2019 freedom to move compared to other tools.<\/p>\n If the wrists get hyperextended, power and strength decrease, and the wrists become the weakest link.<\/p>\n That doesn\u2019t mean a little wrist extension is bad, nor does wrist discomfort mean the barbell overhead press should be discarded. Sometimes tweaking the starting position is all that\u2019s needed. At other times, an alternative is needed.<\/p>\n Here, I\u2019ll look at why the barbell overhead press bothers the wrists, five fixes worth trying first, and five wrist-friendlier pressing variations that still build bigger, stronger shoulders.<\/p>\n