EXERCISE GUIDE

Machine Shoulder Press

The Machine Shoulder Press is a beginner machine overhead press that primarily trains the shoulders, with the triceps assisting. It is useful for building overhead pressing strength with the shoulders and triceps.

Primary muscles
shoulders
Secondary muscles
triceps
Equipment
machine
Difficulty
beginner

TARGET AREA

Muscles worked

Primary muscles

shoulders

Secondary muscles

triceps

THE MOVEMENT

How to perform

  1. Adjust the seat so the handles start around shoulder height.
  2. Keep the torso against the pad, brace the abs, and set the wrists over the forearms.
  3. Press overhead without shrugging or arching excessively.
  4. Lower under control to the same comfortable start position.

IRONYOU / CORE

Core cues

  • Brace your torso before each rep so the press comes from the shoulders rather than excessive back extension.
  • Keep the forearms stacked under the load as you press.
  • Use a repeatable start and finish position instead of shortening the range as you fatigue.

STAY SHARP

Common mistakes

  • Leaning back excessively to turn the press into an incline press.
  • Letting the elbows or wrists drift into an unstable position.
  • Using leg drive or momentum when the goal is a strict shoulder press.

YOUR PROGRESS

Your strength

Use your best set to calculate your current IronYou rank and see what comes next.

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IRONYOU RANK SYSTEM

Standards

Published reference points from the production IronYou rank system.

IronYou has 13 strength ranks: Copper I–III → Silver I–III → Gold I–III → Titanium I–III → IRON. IRON is the highest IronYou rank. The public standards tables show the estimated 1RM required to enter Silver I, Gold I, Titanium I, and IRON. Standards vary by sex and bodyweight.

Logged load: machine or cable stack load. Public value: total stack/load.

Machine Shoulder Press Strength Standards — Male

Male

Published estimated 1RM thresholds by bodyweight. Load is recorded as total stack/load.

Machine Shoulder Press estimated 1RM strength standards by bodyweight and IronYou rank — Male.
Bodyweight (kg)Silver IGold ITitanium IIRON
50 kg41.9 kg55.5 kg69.1 kg97.4 kg
60 kg46.4 kg61.5 kg76.5 kg107.9 kg
70 kg50.5 kg66.9 kg83.3 kg117.4 kg
80 kg54.2 kg71.8 kg89.4 kg126 kg
90 kg57.6 kg76.2 kg94.9 kg133.8 kg
100 kg60.6 kg80.2 kg99.9 kg140.8 kg
110 kg63.3 kg83.8 kg104.4 kg147.1 kg
120 kg65.8 kg87.1 kg108.4 kg152.9 kg

Machine Shoulder Press Strength Standards — Female

Female

Published estimated 1RM thresholds by bodyweight. Load is recorded as total stack/load.

Machine Shoulder Press estimated 1RM strength standards by bodyweight and IronYou rank — Female.
Bodyweight (kg)Silver IGold ITitanium IIRON
40 kg19.6 kg25.9 kg32.2 kg45.5 kg
50 kg26.1 kg34.5 kg43 kg60.6 kg
60 kg30.1 kg39.9 kg49.7 kg70.1 kg
70 kg32.7 kg43.3 kg53.9 kg76 kg
80 kg34.3 kg45.4 kg56.5 kg79.6 kg
90 kg35.3 kg46.7 kg58.1 kg81.9 kg
100 kg35.9 kg47.5 kg59.1 kg83.4 kg
  • IronYou-specific standard; resistance can vary between machines/equipment.
  • Values are estimated 1RM thresholds required to enter the named IronYou major rank tier.
  • Standards are derived from the production IronYou Rank V1 model.
  • IronYou-specific standard; resistance can vary between machines/equipment.

KEEP EXPLORING

Variations

  • Related variations: Single Arm Dumbbell Shoulder Press, Barbell Shoulder Press, and Dumbbell Shoulder Press.
  • Choose the version that matches your equipment, joint comfort, and the movement you can repeat consistently.

EARLY ACCESS

Track Machine Shoulder Press in IronYou.

Keep your last session, progress and next target with you when you train.