ExerciseGIF

Exercises / Shoulder press

Shoulder press GIF

Figure

Male figure; the female figure follows.

Muscles
Background

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Worked muscles

  • ShouldersMusculus deltoideus
  • Front shouldersMusculus deltoideus, pars clavicularis
  • Side shouldersMusculus deltoideus, pars acromialis
  • Rotator cuffMusculi rotatores humeri
  • TricepsMusculus triceps brachii
Equipment
Barbell
Loop
One repetition, 4.23 seconds

Get this animation

Part of the shoulder press pack, all 8 shoulder press variations: male figure (the female figure follows), GIF, WebP and MP4 at 480 and 720 px, commercial license.

Get the shoulder press pack, $29Whole library, $249

From the API

GET one exercise
curl https://api.exercisegif.com/v1/exercises/shoulder-press \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $EXERCISEGIF_KEY"

Returns the exercise with GIF, WebP and MP4 links for both figures. Docs

How to do a shoulder press

  1. Set up with the barbell in a rack at shoulder height and position yourself with feet shoulder-width apart
  2. Grip the bar with hands slightly wider than shoulders using an overhand grip
  3. Unrack the bar and position it at shoulder level with elbows directly beneath the bar
  4. Engage your core and maintain a neutral spine throughout the movement
  5. Press the bar straight up overhead until arms are fully extended without arching your back excessively
  6. Lower the bar slowly back to shoulder level while maintaining control

Form tips

  • Keep your core tight and avoid excessive back arching to prevent lower back injury
  • Press the bar in a straight line directly overhead rather than forward to maintain proper bar path
  • Ensure elbows stay under the bar at the bottom position to maximize stability and power transfer
  • Use a full grip around the bar rather than a thumbless grip for better control and safety
  • Start with lighter weight to master the movement pattern before progressing to heavier loads

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