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Exercise guide

Overhead Slam

How to do the Overhead Slam with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

CompoundMedicine BallBeginnerPull
Primary muscles

Lats

Secondary

,

Equipment

Medicine Ball

Step by step

How to do the Overhead Slam

  1. 1

    Hold a medine ball with both hands and stand with your feet at shoulder width. This will be your starting position.

  2. 2

    Initiate the countermovement by raising the ball above your head and fully extending your body.

  3. 3

    Reverse the motion, slamming the ball into the ground directly in front of you as hard as you can.

  4. 4

    Receive the ball with both hands on the bounce and repeat the movement.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Overhead Slam set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap, so your lats volume is visible at a glance, and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Train with a goal

Where the Overhead Slam fits

The Overhead Slam shows up in training built around a specific goal. See how it fits:

Related

More lats exercises

FAQ

Overhead Slam: common questions

What muscles does the Overhead Slam work?

The Overhead Slam primarily works the Lats.

Is the Overhead Slam suitable for beginners?

Yes. The Overhead Slam is a beginner-level exercise, so it's a solid choice if you're new to training. Start light and focus on the movement pattern before adding load.

What equipment do I need for the Overhead Slam?

To do the Overhead Slam you'll need a medicine ball.

Is the Overhead Slam a compound or isolation exercise?

The Overhead Slam is a compound exercise, it moves multiple joints and works several muscle groups at once, which makes it efficient for building overall strength.

How do I do the Overhead Slam with correct form?

Hold a medine ball with both hands and stand with your feet at shoulder width. This will be your starting position. Follow the full step-by-step above for the complete movement.

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