How to do a Smith Machine Bent Over Row
Reviewed by JP Michelsen, CPT, B.A. Kinesiology
About Smith Machine Bent Over Row
Smith Machine
Instructions for Proper Form
This exercise is a Smith Machine variation on Bent Over Row. Like the standard version, this is a compound exercise that primarily targets the back. Using a Smith Machine restricts your range of motion, and adds significantly more stability to the movement. This is a great variation to learn and improve your Bent Over Row.
- Stand upright with your feet shoulder-width apart and slightly angled out with the smith machine bar positioned to knee height.
- Brace your core to keep your spine neutral before hinging your hips backward and flexing your knees to allow your extended arms to reach the bar.
- Grab ahold the bar with your palms facing towards your body.
- Unhook the bar and flex your elbows past your sides 45 degrees from your torso to touch the bar to just above the belly button.
- Lower the bar back to knee height and repeat for allotted repetitions.
Tips & FAQs
Smith Machine Bent Over Row is also known as:
- Smith Machine BO Row
Common Form Mistakes
Overusing the Smith Machine
Smith Machines are great pieces of equipment, however they do hinder your ability to develop smaller stabilizing muscles. Try to work in other variations that require you to stabilize the movement as well.
Over Recruiting Biceps
While your biceps should be involved, you should be feeling a majority of the tension in your back. Try focusing on driving your elbow back instead of bringing the weight towards your chest. This mindset shift will help you recruit the proper muscle groups for this exercise.
Back Flat
Keeping your back flat is essential to maintaining proper form with this exercise. It’s very common to see your back start to round as you become fatigued. Focus on keeping your core engaged, and shoulders back.
Weight & 1 Rep Max Calculator
Average Smith Machine Bent Over Row standards by male, female, weight, age and height
Use this calculator to see Fitbod's possible first recommendations for you. This would be your starting line, based on more than 4.5 billion logged sets from 1.1 million users.
- beginner8reps40lbs1 Rep Max50lbs
- intermediate8reps55lbs70lbs
- advanced8reps70lbs90lbs
Enter your stats to calculate your Reps & Weight
Alternative Exercises to Smith Machine Bent Over Row
1. Bent Over Barbell Row
97.1 mSCORESWAPPED 9,858 TIMESBent Over Barbell row is a compound movement that primarily targets your back, but also hits your shoulders, traps, and biceps. The use of a barbell adds more stability to this movement compared to something like dumbbells which can help you focus on exerting strength rather than stabilizing the movement. It’s a great exercise for building strength, and can be a way to start learning more advanced exercises like Olympic Lifts.
2. Cable Row
99.8 mSCORESWAPPED 9,351 TIMESCable Row is a compound movement that primarily targets your back, but also hits your shoulders and biceps. This exercise is often done with a specific cable machine that sets you into the perfect position, but you can also use an adjustable cable to have more control over the direction your resistance is coming from. This is a great exercise for building muscle mass and strength in your back, and is a common addition to most upper body or pull workouts.
3. Lat Pulldown
100 mSCORESWAPPED 8,019 TIMESThis compound exercise primarily targets the back, but also hits the shoulders and biceps. The movement itself is based on a Pull Up, however, by locking your legs into place, you can add significantly more stability to the movement making it easier to complete a rep, as well as getting control over the resistance. This exercise can be easily adapted to meet your needs with different handles.
- Beginner
- Back
- Lat Pulldown
4. Dumbbell Row
99.9 mSCORESWAPPED 7,213 TIMESThis compound movement primarily targets the back, but also hits the shoulders and biceps, as well as requiring some core activation for stability. By bracing yourself on the flat bench, you can position your torso parallel to the ground, without needing specific equipment. This is a great exercise with or without limited equipment, and a staple in many back workouts.
5. Dumbbell Bent Over Row
94.4 mSCORESWAPPED 4,699 TIMESDumbbell Bent Over Row is a compound exercise that primarily targets the back, but also hits biceps. The use of dumbbells helps prevent compensating for any discrepancies in strength between sides, as well as adds more instability to the movement compared to equipment like barbells. This can be a great addition to any back workout for building muscle mass and strength.
6. Machine Row
95.6 mSCORESWAPPED 4,557 TIMESLike other row variations, this is a compound exercise that primarily targets your back. Unlike other variations, using a machine restricts your range of motion, and adds a ton of stability to the movement. This is excellent exercise for learning or practicing the movement of a seated row.
- Beginner
- Back
- Row Machine
7. Hammerstrength Iso Row
93 mSCORESWAPPED 3,003 TIMESHammerstrength High Row is a compound exercise that primarily targets your back. This movement is fairly similar to other seated rows, however the Hammerstrength Machine will restrict your range of motion to an arc, rather than a straight line. The machine also adds stability to the movement, which allows you to focus your attention on exertion rather than stability.
- Beginner
- Back
- Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)
8. Hammerstrength High Row
91.5 mSCORESWAPPED 2,795 TIMESHammerstrength High Row is a compound exercise that primarily targets your back. This movement is somewhere in between a Lat Pull Down and a Seated Row. The Hammerstrength Machine helps restrict your range of motion by moving on a set path, and adds a ton of stability to the movement. This is a great exercise for building strength, and the use of a machine allows you to focus more of your efforts on exertion rather than form.
- Beginner
- Back
- Hammerstrength (Leverage) Machine (all forms)
9. Reverse Grip Barbell Bent Over Row
83.9 mSCORESWAPPED 2,717 TIMESReverse Grip Barbell Bent Over Row is a compound exercise that primarily targets the back, but also hits the biceps and shoulders. The reverse grip can help further emphasize the biceps and recruit different muscles in the back compared to a standard grip. Using a barbell adds stability to the movement, allowing you to focus more on exertion rather than stability.
10. T-Bar Row
81.2 mSCORESWAPPED 2,508 TIMEST-Bar Row is a compound movement that primarily targets your back but also engages the shoulders and biceps. By using a T-Bar, you have a more stable grip and can lift heavier weights compared to other row variations. The fixed bar path helps maintain proper form, making this exercise a great choice for building back strength and muscle mass.
- Intermediate
- Back
- T Bar