Problems with overhead press

[DoubleTapThat]

So i've started incorporating an overhead press with a barbell into my workout, it works my shoulders great. However I tend to find i'm incredibly unstable. This mostly happens in getting the bar from the ground to above my head. I clean the bar up, and as i push the bar from the front of my shoulders upwards I become incredibly unstable. Earlier today, during my workout I became unbalanced and basically dropped the bar over the back of my head and it's jarred my neck.

So, my question to you is, how can I improve my stability with this excercise.

any help is appreciated,

George

 

[Trek]

This is a good example of why working with machines is generally a bad idea and working with free weights is better. Free weights call all of your stabalizing muscles into play to control the weight, giving you a better overall workout. It sound like your delts are strong but the smaller stabalizing muscles are week. The solution is to start with a weight that you can manage and increase the weight as you get stronger. So continue with the barbell, use a light weight and go for higher reps.

 

[DoubleTapThat]

Thanks for your response. Whilst its true my delts are strong, I think what you've said is exactly right. until a couple of weeks ago I was naive and was using pretty much all machines for my workout, now i've switched from machines altogether to free weights. I've got a bench and weight/barbell set on the way so having the barbell at home will make it far easier to practise those higher reps to help build the stabilizers, as you say. thanks again

 

[DoubleTapThat]

Thanks for your response Thierry. My neck is ok now, I did indeed get it checked out before another session to make sure it was only temporary pain. I've downgraded the weight to just the olympic bar and i'm practising form more, one of the guys in the gym is going to assess my form for this excercise and squats/deadlifts etc, in a weeks time. I never do it behind the neck as i've heard what you said about it being bad from several others as well. I rest the bar on the front of my shoulders at present.