Smith Kneeling Hip Thrust

The Smith kneeling hip thrust targets the glutes and hamstrings while providing stability through the Smith machine.

  1. Position a barbell on the Smith machine at hip height.
  2. Kneel on the ground with your back to the bar, placing it across your hips.
  3. Engage your core and thrust your hips forward, lifting the barbell.
  4. Lower your hips back to the starting position and repeat.

How to perform the Smith Kneeling Hip Thrust

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Smith Kneeling Hip Thrust 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 glutes.
  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 glutes 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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