Smith Wide Grip Bench Press

Lie flat on a bench with your feet planted firmly on the ground. Grasp the barbell with a wide grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Lower the barbell towards your chest in a controlled manner. Press the barbell back up to the starting position, extending your arms fully. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

How to perform the Smith Wide Grip Bench Press

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Smith Wide Grip 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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Variations of Smith Wide Grip Bench Press

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