Overhead pressing in Strongman is an excellent test of strength, but these days it has become somewhat vague as to what a good lift should look like. Linked to the left is an excellent example of a perfect press by Nicolas Cambi. Examples are included below, but it was hard to capture the exact moment the lift was called good at times. Each picture contains links.

Here are some guidelines for making a good lift:

• Wrist wraps and knee/elbow sleeves are typically allowed.

• Belts are allowed, usually with the buckle facing behind depending on the implement. 

• Belt cleans are allowed in many competitions, but sometimes they aren't depending on the promoters. 

• To get a full lockout and down command feet must be parallel, arms fully extended, and joints stacked. 

• Many times judges will expect eye contact and a display that the weight is fully in control. 

• Typically a good lockout could be held for several seconds, but should be at least able to be easily caught on camera for "a good photo finish" as Andrew Clayton would say. 

• The lockout typically looks the same for all presses with the exception of the circus dumbbell which can often be challenging to judge due to one arm not being able to touch the implement for the press.

• With a unilateral movement it can be hard to tell when lockout has occurred, but the feet should still be parallel and the arm should be fully extended with the head facing forward. 

• Oftentimes it helps to guide the weight down to the crash pad rather than dropping it to the side or behind to show there was full control.

Above are some examples of lifts that were considered good in competition on the World stage. Many people felt that the lifts were questionable, which isn't great for the athletes, the sport, and for judges. At the Rogue Invitational, Martins Licis had a controversial lift here on the left. He returned the dumbbell to his shoulder for a second surprised he had been given a down command for a good lift. He reacted to this which is linked and said he felt bad about that lift. These situations often come from judges simply being too eager to give a down command, which doesn't help the athlete. We never want to blame athletes for bad calls, and want them to be proud of every good lift given.