Incline Close Grip Smith Machine Bench Press

How to Perform the Incline Close Grip Smith Machine Bench Press

1. Set an adjustable bench to a 30-45 degree incline and position it inside a Smith machine so the bar path aligns with your upper chest.
2. Sit on the bench and grip the bar with a close grip, hands approximately shoulder-width apart.
3. Unrack the bar by rotating it to release the safety hooks, then hold it above your upper chest with arms extended.
4. Lower the bar slowly toward your upper chest, keeping your elbows tucked close to your body.
5. Touch the bar to your upper chest, pausing briefly at the bottom.
6. Press the bar back up explosively until your arms are fully extended.
7. On your final rep, rotate the bar to re-engage the safety hooks to rack the weight.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Muscles Worked

Benefits

• ✓The fixed bar path allows you to focus purely on pushing force without stabilization demands.
• ✓Safely train to failure without a spotter by using the built-in safety hooks.
• ✓Effectively targets the upper chest and triceps with reduced injury risk.

Pro Tips

• ●The Smith machine allows you to train safely to failure without a spotter — simply rotate the bar to rack it at any point.
• ●Position the bench so the bar touches your upper chest at the bottom of the rep.
• ●Use this variation when you want to isolate the pressing muscles without worrying about stabilization.

Variations

Recommended Sets & Reps