Smith Shoulder Press

Sit on the bench with your back against the pad and your feet flat on the floor. Adjust the barbell to chest level and grab it with an overhand grip. Push the barbell up above your head until your arms are fully extended. Slowly lower the barbell back down to the starting position. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

How to perform the Smith Shoulder Press

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Smith Shoulder 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 deltoids.
  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 deltoids 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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Variations of Smith Shoulder Press

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