How to do a Smith Machine Close-Grip Bench Press
Reviewed by Jim Parker, CPT, B.A. Kinesiology
About Smith Machine Close-Grip Bench Press
Flat Bench
Smith Machine
Workouts with Smith Machine Close-Grip Bench Press
Instructions for Proper Form
Utilizing the Smith Machine for a close-grip bench press ensures precise control and stability, allowing for focused effort on the triceps, along with the chest and shoulders. The close grip emphasizes tricep engagement, making it a powerful exercise for building strength and muscle definition in the arms. It's suitable for lifters at all levels seeking to improve their pressing power and tricep size.
- Lie your back onto a bench while squeezing your shoulder blades together and place your heels firmly on the ground underneath your knees.
- The bench should be in contact with your head, shoulders, and butt at all times.
- Position the smith machine bar over the bottom of your chest before grabbing ahold of it directly over your shoulders with an overhand grip.
- Keep your core braced as you unhook the bar and descend it towards the bottom of your chest by flexing your elbows past your sides.
- Gently touch the bottom of your chest with the bar before exhaling it back to the starting position.
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Alternative Exercises to Smith Machine Close-Grip Bench Press
1. Cable Tricep Pushdown
97.9 mSCORESWAPPED 2,074 TIMESThis is an isolation exercise that targets the triceps. This exercise is very similar to other cable tricep exercises with the exception of using a flat bar instead of other handle attachments. This keeps your hands palms down, and reduces the demand for stabilizing your wrist during the movement.
- Beginner
- Triceps
- Rope Cable
2. Close-Grip Bench Press
96.6 mSCORESWAPPED 2,068 TIMESClose Grip Bench Press is a triceps focused variation on the standard Bench Press. By bringing your hands closer together, you reduce the amount of tension in your chest, and place more of that tension on your triceps. This is a great exercise for working a little bit more triceps into your chest days.
3. Seated Tricep Press
97.4 mSCORESWAPPED 1,709 TIMESSeated Tricep Press is an isolation exercise that targets your triceps. The positioning of the dumbbell varies from many other tricep exercises, which is great for adding some variety to your exercise selection. By positioning the dumbbell overhead you can ensure that you’re taking your triceps through their full range of motion.
4. Cable Rope Tricep Extension
99.1 mSCORESWAPPED 1,296 TIMESThis is an isolation triceps exercise. The use of cables gives you more control over where the resistance is coming from, allowing you to keep more tension in your triceps compared to equipment like dumbbells. Because you can easily adjust the weight on a cable machine this is also a great exercise for performing drop sets, and burning out your triceps.
- Intermediate
- Triceps
- Rope Cable
5. Machine Tricep Dip
92.9 mSCORESWAPPED 1,270 TIMESMachine Tricep Dips are a variation on the more standard Dip. This is a compound movement that primarily targets your triceps. By using a machine, you restrict your range of motion, and add more stability to the movement. This allows you to focus on exertion rather than stabilizing the movement. Because you’ll also be using a weight stack instead of bodyweight, you can have more control over your resistance. This is a great exercise for anyone looking to work towards performing full bodyweight dips, or just building muscle mass and strength in your triceps.
- Beginner
- Triceps
- Tricep Dip Machine
6. Bench Dip
93.8 mSCORESWAPPED 1,194 TIMESBench Dip is a variation on the standard Dip. Like other Dip variations, this is a compound, bodyweight exercise that primarily targets your triceps. Because your feet are still on the ground, this tends to be an easier variation, and a great way to build tricep strength as you work towards full bodyweight dips.
- Beginner
- Triceps
- Flat Bench
7. Dumbbell Skullcrusher
98.4 mSCORESWAPPED 1,157 TIMESDumbbell Skullcrusher is an isolation exercise that targets your triceps. Unlike some skull crusher variations, the use of dumbbells prevents you from compensating for any differences in strength between sides, as well as adding some instability to the movement.
8. Dumbbell Kickbacks
93.7 mSCORESWAPPED 1,006 TIMESDumbbell Kickbacks are an isolation exercise that target the triceps. The use of dumbbells prevents you from compensating for any strength discrepancies between sides. The movement itself is simple and easy to perform, making this a great exercise for beginners, and plenty of variations exist for more advanced users looking to add more difficulty and complexity to the movement.
9. Machine Tricep Extension
90.2 mSCORESWAPPED 929 TIMESSimilar to other tricep extensions, this variation is an isolation movement that targets the triceps. The use of a machine restricts your range of motion, and adds a ton of stability to the movement. By placing your elbows against the pad, you ensure that the movement is coming entirely from your triceps, and you aren’t accidentally recruiting additional muscle groups.
- Beginner
- Triceps
- Triceps Extension Machine
10. Dip
93.9 mSCORESWAPPED 866 TIMESDips are a compound, bodyweight triceps exercise, and an incredibly common exercise. The exercise requires you to raise and lower yourself in a suspended position by flexing and extending your arms. With the standard variation, this is mostly accomplished by engaging your triceps, however other variations can shift this to be more of a chest exercise.
- Beginner
- Triceps
- Dip (Parallel) Bar