Overhead Pallof Press

Also known as: vertical pallof press, pallof press overhead, band overhead pallof press, pallof press with overhead press, pallof press with overhead reach, overhead pallof hold

In SetGrip: Pallof Press (Overhead)

Secondary muscles
Obliques, Glutes
Body part
Core
Position
Standing
Laterality
Bilateral (both sides together)
Category
Strength

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Pressing the band from your chest to overhead lengthens the lever, so the pull toward the anchor peaks exactly when your arms are extended above you. Against the standard chest-height Pallof press, this version adds an anti-extension job: the band tries to arch your lower back and tug you sideways at once, and your ribs have to stay down.

How to do the Overhead Pallof Press

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and wrap the band around a sturdy object at chest height.
  2. Hold the band with both hands and step away from the anchor point, creating tension in the band.
  3. Position yourself perpendicular to the anchor point, with your side facing the band.
  4. Extend your arms straight out in front of you, keeping your hands at chest height.
  5. Engage your core and press the band away from your chest, fully extending your arms.
  6. Hold the position for a few seconds, then slowly bring the band back towards your chest.
  7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch sides.

Tip: Squeeze the bar hard and keep the wrists straight over the elbows through the whole rep.

Muscles worked

Primary

Abs · Core

The abs brace the trunk on standing and single arm presses so the torso does not twist under the load.

Secondary

Common mistakes

  • Elbows flaring wide — on horizontal presses keep the elbows at roughly 45 degrees from the torso; pressing overhead, keep them under the weight instead.
  • Losing the shoulder blade position — on bench-style presses set the shoulder blades back and down and keep them there; overhead, let the shoulder blades rotate up naturally with the arms.
  • Bouncing or rushing the bottom — control the bar down and pause for a beat before driving up, especially on decline and close grip variations.
  • Not committing to a variation — Bradford presses, skull presses and the like are hybrids; pick a fixed range and stick with it for the whole set.

Where it fits in a workout

Presses are the main movement in a push session and should go first or second. Superset them with a row or pulldown for a push and pull pair.

How many sets, how heavy and how hard: see what the ACSM position stands support.

Variations and alternatives

Similar exercises

Without resistance band

Easier and harder

When to talk to someone

  • Chest discomfort, feeling faint or lightheaded, or trouble breathing during or after exercise can be signs of a heart attack. In the US, call 911 right away; elsewhere, call your local emergency number.
  • Heart, metabolic or kidney disease, or symptoms like these when you are active: talk to your doctor before you start or step up training.
  • Pregnant: ask your obstetric care provider which exercise suits you.

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More exercises

Sources

  1. ACSM position stand on exercise quantity and quality (Garber et al., 2011)
  2. ACSM preparticipation health screening (Riebe et al., 2015)
  3. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 804 on exercise in pregnancy (2020)
  4. CDC: About Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery (2024)

Sources checked on October 17, 2026. Full citations are in the exercise library.

Animation and exercise data: ExerciseDB, licensed to SetGrip. General information, not medical or coaching advice.