Shoulder Stretches for Presses

Hi,
been moving up in my overhead press and notice that my shoulders are really inflexible.
When I press I don't focus on keeping my shoulder down and that works fine for me, however I have read a few times that it is good to keep the shoulder down and so engage the lats.
I find that when I try to keep the shoulder down i can't press up in a straight line. So I find it easier to kettlebell press than I do to press a bar as it's easier to cheat.
Not sure that it's necessary to press in this way, however I do want to correct the lack of flexibility.
If anyone could recommend some stretches, links to vids or just some personal experience i'd be grateful.

Many thanks
daniel

Hi Daniel, welcome to the club of inflexible shoulders, don't worry too much about what you read and just keep the presses strict and try to press in a straight line, what i do before training shoulders is to grab a broom handle with both hands and hold it as if you where doing a front raise so it is parallel to the floor and now raise it with arms still straight above the head and over your back till it touches your lower back, as your delts free up you can do another set with the hands a little closer.
Aim to do 2 sets of 10 reps hope this helps.

Aaron

Hi Aaron,
thanks for the reply.
I will try that movement and hopefully it'll loosen up my shoulders a bit.

Do you not get more pressing power by being able to keep the shoulder down? Thing is I am working on my strict press and don't like to use my legs for any assistance so I wonder if that is another reason why i can only get the weight started with the shoulder down.

Going to get my 16kg kettlebell out today and try pressing it really strict and i'll try your suggestion.

thanks

I've started doing dislocates (the move Aaron described) with bands. As your flexibility improves, you can move to stronger bands.

It's supposed to be safer for your shoulders if you can keep it tucked in the socket on pressing moves, whcih is something I've been trying to do recently. Stuff like scapular rows and pulldowns may help.