Should I be pressing more?

[Irishman301]

Since switching to the TM, I'm only pressing on recovery day rather then every other workout as in SS. I still do 3 heavy sets of 5 on that day, and I try to increase weight every week, but I'm not sure if maybe I should be doing more OH pressing.

My routine is:

monday - volume
squat
bench
power clean
pull-ups/chin-ups
abs

wednesday - recovery
squat
OH press
Good mornings
abs

Friday - Intensity
squat
bench
Deadlift
pull-ups/chinups
abs

You'll probably ask what exactly my goals are. Well, honestly my goals are just to get as strong as possible in all the 5 main lifts. I'm just not sure if I'm not doing enough OH pressing to achieve this goal.

I could switch my volume and intensity days to the OH press instead of bench, but I'd like to get a strong bench press as well, so that option is out.

I also thought about alternating bench and OH press every other week (one week train for the press, next week train for the bench press, and alternate the two). But I didn't really like the sounds of that since 2 weeks seems like a pretty long time to make an increase in weight.

Basically it seems as if I would have to choose to either specifically train the bench press or the OH press (once on Vol. day and once on Intensity day), for maximum results.

Of course I could always do both presses every workout, but I think that would be a little too much stuff each workout.

I'm sure you have dealt with this situation before. What do you suggest? Keep things the way they are?

Thanks a lot!

[Mark Rippetoe]

Why don't you alternate the weeks, benching twice one week and pressing twice the next week, doing the other lift on Wed. Or you could do the program you describe for 6-8 weeks and then reverse the emphasis for 6-8 weeks, bring each lift up periodically.

[Irishman301]

Or you could do the program you describe for 6-8 weeks and then reverse the emphasis for 6-8 weeks, bring each lift up periodically.

Ya know, I never thought about doing that. I think I like this idea. Thanks.