Smith Bench Press

Lie flat on the bench with your feet firmly planted on the ground, gripping the barbell with an overhand grip slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Push the barbell upward using your chest and triceps until your arms are fully extended. Lower the barbell down to your chest, keeping your elbows slightly tucked in, and then press it back up to the starting position. Repeat for desired number of repetitions.

How to perform the Smith Bench Press

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Smith Bench Press using your smith machine.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your pectoralis major.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your pectoralis major rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

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