Best Chest And Back Workouts With Weight Machines To Build Strength

The Machine Row is a great exercise for working on your back muscles. Using a machine helps you maintain stability and control, making it perfect for beginners to practice the seated row technique.

How to do it

1. Sit upright in the row machine with your chest against the support pad.
2. Grab the handles with an overhand or neutral grip.
3. Tighten your core to keep your back straight.
4. Pull the handles towards your torso by bending your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Slowly return the handles to the starting position.

The Smith Machine Bench Press is a chest exercise that works your triceps and shoulders too. The Smith Machine helps keep the movement steady, making it easier to focus on properly performing the exercise.

How to do it

1. Lie on your back on a bench with your shoulder blades squeezed together.
2. Make sure your head, shoulders, and butt stay on the bench.
3. Place your feet flat on the ground and keep your knees bent.
4. Position the bar over your chest, holding it just outside shoulder-width with an overhand grip.
5. Engage your core and unhook the bar, lowering it slowly towards your chest while keeping your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
6. Touch your chest gently with the bar, then exhale and push it back to the starting position.

The Smith Machine Bent Over Row is an exercise that targets the back muscles using a Smith Machine for added stability. It helps beginners improve their form and strength while performing the row movement.

How to do it

1. Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and bar at knee height.
2. Engage your core and hinge at your hips while bending your knees to reach for the bar.
3. Grab the bar with palms facing you.
4. Lift the bar by bending your elbows to bring it to your belly button level.
5. Lower the bar back to knee height and repeat.

The Smith Machine Incline Bench Press is a chest exercise that targets the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It offers stability, making it ideal for beginners who want to focus on their form and strength without worrying about balance.

How to do it

1. Set the bench at a 40-60 degree incline and lie back, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
2. Plant your feet firmly on the ground beneath your knees and keep your back in contact with the bench.
3. Position the Smith machine bar over your chest with a shoulder-width grip and keep your core tight.
4. Unhook the bar and lower it towards your chest by bending your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Touch the bar gently to your chest, then press it back up to the starting position.

The Machine Bench Press is a great exercise for beginners to strengthen the chest, shoulders, and triceps. It uses a fixed range of motion, making it easier to focus on pushing rather than balancing.

How to do it

1. Sit upright in the machine with your shoulders squeezed together and feet flat on the ground.
2. Ensure your back is in contact with the machine all the way from your head to your butt.
3. Hold the handles with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width.
4. Brace your core and push the handles up until your arms are fully extended at a 45-degree angle.
5. Lower the handles back to the starting position.

The Machine Fly is an exercise that targets your chest and works your shoulders. It uses a machine for stability, making it easier for beginners to learn the movement safely and effectively.

How to do it

1. Sit upright in the fly machine with your shoulder blades squeezed together and feet flat on the ground, shoulder-width apart.
2. Ensure your back is against the pad, keeping contact with your head, shoulders, and butt.
3. Engage your core to maintain a neutral spine position.
4. Hold the handles with palms facing forward.
5. With slightly bent elbows, move your arms in a wide arc to bring the handles together.
6. Slowly return to the starting position.

The Smith Machine Decline Press is a safe exercise that strengthens the lower chest, shoulders, and triceps. It offers stability and support, making it ideal for beginners to practice proper form during their workouts.

How to do it

1. Lie back on a decline bench, squeezing your shoulder blades together and securing your legs to the bench.
2. Keep your head, shoulders, and butt in contact with the bench at all times.
3. Position the Smith Machine bar over your lower chest and grip it shoulder-width with an overhand grip.
4. Brace your core, unhook the bar, and lower it towards your chest by bending your elbows at a 45-degree angle.
5. Lightly touch your chest with the bar, then exhale and push it back to the starting position.

The Inverted Row is a bodyweight exercise that strengthens your back while keeping your spine straight. It’s similar to a standard row but allows you to use your own body weight for added stability and support.

How to do it

1. Set a barbell at waist height.
2. Grab the bar with both hands, slightly wider than your shoulders.
3. Lie under the bar, keeping your body straight from your heels to your shoulders.
4. Lift your body by bending your elbows and pulling your chest towards the bar.
5. Lower yourself back to the starting position.

The Assisted Chin Up is a strength exercise that focuses on your back muscles. This variation uses a counterweight, making it easier to lift yourself towards the bar as you build strength for regular Chin Ups.

How to do it

1. Use the assisted pull-up machine and place your knees on the pad.
2. Grip the pull-up bar with your palms facing you.
3. Engage your core and keep your body straight from shoulders to knees.
4. Pull your chest towards the bar by bending your elbows down.
5. Lower yourself back down slowly to the starting position.

The Assisted Neutral Grip Pull Up is a beginner-friendly exercise that helps strengthen your back and arms. Using a neutral grip (palms facing each other) is more comfortable for your shoulders and allows you to gradually build strength to perform unassisted pull-ups.

How to do it

1. Set your knees on the pad of the assisted pull-up machine.
2. Grab the neutral grip bar with your palms facing each other.
3. Engage your core to keep your body straight.
4. Pull your chest up towards the bar by bending your elbows down.
5. Lower yourself back down slowly to the starting position.

The Assisted Pull Up is an easier version of the standard Pull Up that helps strengthen your back, shoulders, and biceps. Using assistance, like a counterweight or resistance band, allows you to lift less of your body weight, making it perfect for beginners aiming to build strength for full Pull Ups.

How to do it

1. Adjust the assisted pull-up machine to your height.
2. Kneel on the machine pad and grab the pull-up bar with your palms facing forward.
3. Engage your core to keep your body straight from shoulders to knees.
4. Pull your chest up towards the bar by bending your elbows.
5. Lower yourself back down slowly to the starting position.

The Assisted Wide Grip Pull Up is a beginner-friendly exercise that strengthens your back muscles, particularly the lats. By using assistance, you can perform this exercise more easily while preparing for unassisted pull-ups. The wide grip helps focus on your back while minimizing bicep use.

How to do it

1. Adjust the machine so you can place your knees on the assistance pad.
2. Grab the pull-up handles with your palms facing away from you, in a wide grip.
3. Pull your head up above the handles by bending your elbows, keeping your body straight.
4. Lower yourself back down to starting position in a controlled manner.