Flex

Smith Machine Incline Press

Muscles worked

Technique

Setup

Set an adjustable bench to a low incline of about 30 degrees and position it so the bar lowers to your upper chest, just below your collarbones. Set the safety stops, lie back with your feet planted, and grip slightly wider than shoulder width.

Movement

Twist the bar off the hooks and lower it under control to your upper chest. Press back up until your arms are straight, keeping your shoulder blades pinned to the bench.

Form Tip

Check the bench position with an empty bar first. If the bar lands on your neck or your mid-chest, slide the bench until it touches just below your collarbones.

Increase Difficulty

Pause for 1 second on your chest, or slow the lowering phase to 3 seconds.

Decrease Difficulty

Use a lighter load, or lower the incline slightly.