Exercise Description: Incline Smith Machine Bench Press

Specs: Muscles Worked: The primary muscles worked during incline Smith Machine barbell bench presses are the Upper Chest (Pectorals). Secondarily are the Mid and Lower Chest, Triceps and Shoulders.

Instructions: 1) Lie on an incline bench (35° or less) with head underneath bar, shoulders drawn back, eyes aligned with bar, and feet flat on floor. 2) Position hands on bar wider than shoulder width or lower the loaded bar to chest and position grip to where forearms are perpendicular to the floor. 3) Start position: Lift bar off the support catches and then rotate in hands to the hooks clear the catch pins. Then with control, lower bar to upper chest/back of neck. Press bar up to starting position.

Note - The advantage of the smith machine is that the fixed guides can help control the bar, taking the need to balance the bar out of the equation and to possibly handle bigger weights. The fact that you don't need to balance the bar can also be a disadvantage depending on what you are working towards and also your individual characteristics.