Bradford/Rocky Presses
Bradford/Rocky Presses is a beginner compound barbell exercise that mainly works your shoulders, with help from your triceps.


How to do the bradford/rocky presses
- Sit on a Military Press Bench with a bar at shoulder level with a pronated grip (palms facing forward). Tip: Your grip should be wider than shoulder width and it should create a 90-degree angle between the forearm and the upper arm as the barbell goes down. This is your starting position.
- Once you pick up the barbell with the correct grip, lift the bar up over your head by locking your arms.
- Now lower the bar down to the back of the head slowly as you inhale.
- Lift the bar back up to the starting position as you exhale.
- Lower the bar down to the starting position slowly as you inhale. This is one repetition.
- Alternate in this manner until you complete the recommended amount of repetitions.
Muscles worked
Sets and reps
For strength, do 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest. For muscle growth, 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. Add a little weight when you hit the top of the range on every set.
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Start your free trialBradford/Rocky Presses alternatives
Exercises that train the same main muscle, including options with other equipment.
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Cuban PressDumbbell · Intermediate
Leverage Shoulder PressMachine · Beginner
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Handstand Push-UpsBodyweight · ExpertFAQ
What muscles does the bradford/rocky presses work?
It mainly works your shoulders; your triceps assist.
How many sets and reps of bradford/rocky presses should I do?
For strength, do 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest. For muscle growth, 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. Add a little weight when you hit the top of the range on every set.
Is the bradford/rocky presses good for beginners?
Yes. It is a beginner-friendly movement: start light and focus on the form steps above.