The barbell shoulder press/military press is a compound barbell movement that builds serious upper body mass, strength, and can boost performance for strength, power, and fitness athletes. Shoulder pressing with a barbell will allow you to use more weight and requires slightly less emphasis on balance and a lesser range of motion. Military press requires your heels to be pressed together. Shoulder Barbell Press Technique. Barbell Shoulder Press The seated barbell shoulder pressis a classic exercise for building muscle and strengthening the shoulders, particularly but not exclusively the front heads. Instructions Stand with your feet hip-width apart and hold a barbell in front of your chest with your arms bent and hands shoulder-width … The triceps also play a significant roles in pressing the barbell overhead. With being able to handle more weight than the dumbbell variant, the barbell shoulder press is one of the main compound movements used by professional bodybuilders.