Chest·Machine·Compound
Smith Machine Bench Press
Chest · Machine
Beginner
Body Part
Chest
Equipment
Machine
Level
Beginner
Type
Compound
Force
Push
The Smith Machine Bench Press is a beginner machine exercise that primarily targets the Chest.
Muscles Worked
In Position


How to Do the Smith Machine Bench Press
- 1Place a flat bench underneath the smith machine. Now place the barbell at a height that you can reach when lying down and your arms are almost fully extended. Once the weight you need is selected, lie down on the flat bench. Using a pronated grip that is wider than shoulder width, unlock the bar from the rack and hold it straight over you with your arms locked. This will be your starting position.
- 2As you breathe in, come down slowly until you feel the bar on your middle chest.
- 3After a second pause, bring the bar back to the starting position as you breathe out and push the bar using your chest muscles. Lock your arms in the contracted position, hold for a second and then start coming down slowly again. Tip: It should take at least twice as long to go down than to come up.
- 4Repeat the movement for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
- 5When you are done, lock the bar back in the rack.
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Exercise data from the open-source Free Exercise DB. Library last reviewed June 22, 2026 · How these guides are written