Smith Machine Step-Up
The barbell step-up under the Smith bar; the rails hold the bar's path, so balance matters less and the working leg can take more load.
How to do it
Setup
A bench under the Smith bar, the bar on the upper back, the working foot flat on the bench.
Steps
- Drive up through the foot on the bench until the leg is straight.
- Keep the bar level and the torso upright on the rails' line.
- Step down under control; finish the set, then switch legs.
Common mistakes
Bench too far forward of the bar: the rails pull you back; set it so the working foot sits under the bar. Letting the bar drift off the upper back as you rise: squeeze it into the traps. Re-racking with one foot still on the bench: step down first.
Breathing
Exhale stepping up, inhale down.
