General exercise guide
Bradford Press
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Primary
Shoulders
Secondary
Triceps, Upper back
Equipment
Barbell
Difficulty
Advanced
Type
Push
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The example below shows one possible placement. Your purchased plan is built from your assessment, and Ely checks every exercise before approving it.
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This page is not medical advice or a rehabilitation protocol. Ely's personal review applies to purchased workout plans and does not replace an in-person assessment by a licensed healthcare professional.
The Bradford press moves the barbell continuously from front to back without ever locking out overhead. You press from in front of your face, clear your head, lower behind your neck, then reverse—creating constant tension on your delts. It's a high-volume shoulder burner popularized by old-school bodybuilders.
When to use it
Use as a shoulder finisher or for high time-under-tension work.
Who it's for
Advanced lifters with good shoulder mobility.
Coaching Note
Never lock out at the top—the bar only goes high enough to clear your head. Keep constant tension by moving smoothly between front and back positions. Use significantly less weight than your strict press; the continuous tension makes light weight feel heavy quickly.
Muscles worked: Bradford Press
Secondary
Stabilizers
CoreRotator cuff
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Bradford Press form guide
- 1
Start with the barbell at the front of your shoulders in a front rack position.
- 2
Press the bar just high enough to clear your head and move it behind your neck.
- 3
Lower the bar to rest briefly on your upper traps behind your neck.
- 4
Press the bar back up and over your head to return to the front position.
- 5
Continue alternating between front and back without locking out overhead.
What are the best tips for the Bradford Press?
Keep constant tension by not locking out at the top of the movement.
Use a lighter weight than your standard overhead press initially.
Maintain a tight core throughout the entire movement.
Focus on smooth transitions between front and back positions.
When to Use the Bradford Press
Use Bradford presses as a shoulder finisher for metabolic stress, or as a primary movement when time under tension is your goal. They require good shoulder mobility since the bar goes behind your head. Skip them if behind-neck pressing bothers your shoulders.
What are common Bradford Press mistakes to avoid?
Using too much weight and losing control of the barbell.
Loading more weight than you can control on the Bradford Press often creates compensations that shift work away from your Front shoulders (anterior deltoid). Reduce the load until each rep follows the intended path.
Locking out fully at the top, losing the continuous tension.
Cutting the range of motion short on the Bradford Press can reduce the training stimulus for your Front shoulders (anterior deltoid). Use the largest comfortable range you can control without changing the intended setup.
Moving the head forward too much during the transition.
Craning your neck during the Bradford Press changes your upper-body position and can make the rep less stable. Keep your head aligned with your torso and use a consistent gaze.
Allowing the elbows to flare excessively during the movement.
Letting your elbows drift away from the intended path during the Bradford Press can change which muscles carry the load. Use the elbow position described in the setup cues and keep it consistent through each rep.
Is the Bradford Press right for you?
Advanced lifters with good shoulder mobility.
Programming examples for Bradford Press
These ranges illustrate ways to organize training. They are not an individual prescription. Adjust them for the exercise, your experience, and the rest of your program.
Strength6-8 reps
Heavier loads can be useful for developing maximum strength. The range shown is an example, and the load must match your current technique and capacity.
Muscle Growth10-15 reps
Muscle growth can occur across different loads and repetition ranges. This example is not a uniquely effective zone; your overall program and effort also matter.
Endurance15-20 reps
This is an example of a longer set. A repetition target alone does not establish joint safety or whether the exercise is appropriate for you.
Example: 3-4 sets of 10-12 reps. Rest 90s.
Background for resistance exercises: the 2026 ACSM position stand covers healthy adults, and a load-comparison review found similar muscle growth across loads in studies using sets taken to muscular failure. These findings do not validate every exercise-specific range shown here or require training to failure.
Where Bradford Press fits in your workout
This is one example of how Bradford Press could sit inside a complete workout. Your plan may use different movements after Ely checks your assessment.
Sample workout
- Overhead Press4 × 8
- Lateral Raise3 × 12
- Bradford Press3 × 12
- Face Pull3 × 15
Use this exercise in Gym Mode
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Other Variations
- Seated Bradford Press
- Dumbbell Bradford Press
- Smith Machine Bradford Press
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Safety Notes
- Ensure adequate shoulder mobility before attempting.
- Start with very light weight to master the movement pattern.
- General fitness education only. This is not medical advice or a rehabilitation protocol. Stop if you feel pain, and follow a licensed healthcare professional for an injury, medical condition, or return after surgery.