Smith Machine Calf Raises
Quick answer
Smith Machine Calf Raises is a beginner isolation Smith machine exercise that mainly works the calves.
Written by the GymStreak coaching team
Muscles worked
Primary
How to do Smith Machine Calf Raises
- 1
Put the smith machine barbell at a height that matches the height of your shoulders.
- 2
Stand in the middle of a smith machine, with feet shoulder width apart. Hold the smith machine barbell on top of your traps and look forward. Unhook the barbell. This is your starting position.
- 3
Press your body up by flexing your calf muscles and pressing through the balls of your feet. Be sure to keep your knees stationary during this movement.
- 4
At the top of the movement, hold the contraction for a second before slowly returning to just below the starting position, using the height of the plate to extend your range of motion.
Form cues
- Variation: you can also do this exercise with one leg at a time.
- Variation: you can stand on a plate or step to increase the depth of your downwards movement.
- Perform the reps slowly and in a controlled manner. Technique first, weight second!.
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