Smith Incline Shoulder Raises

Also known as: incline smith shoulder raises, incline smith shoulder raise, smith incline shoulder raise

Beginner

Serratus Anterior

Smith Machine

Smith Incline Shoulder Raises is built for your first months of training and works as a chest-day opener.

How to do Smith Incline Shoulder Raises

Adjust the smith machine to an incline position.
Stand facing the machine with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Grasp the bar with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
Keep your back straight and core engaged.
Raise the barbell up towards the ceiling, leading with your elbows.
Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the barbell back down to the starting position.

Add to an AI Workout Plan All Chest Exercises

Smith Incline Shoulder Raises Sets and Reps by Goal

Strength

3 sets of 5-6 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest. Set the safety catches so you can train hard alone.

Hypertrophy

3 sets of 10-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. The fixed path lets you push closer to failure safely.

Endurance

2-3 sets of 15-18 reps with 45-60 seconds of rest. Add load in small steps since the bar is stable.

Common Smith Incline Shoulder Raises Mistakes

Assuming the guided bar means you can skip bracing

Brace the trunk exactly as you would under a free bar.

Stopping at full arm extension without reaching further

Add the last inch by pushing the shoulder blade around the ribcage.

Easier and Harder Than Smith Incline Shoulder Raises

Harder progression

Chest Dip On Straight Bar

Swap Smith Incline Shoulder Raises For

Scapula Push-up

Dumbbell Incline Shoulder Raise

Barbell Incline Shoulder Raise

Smith Incline Shoulder Raises — Frequently Asked Questions

How do you do the Smith Incline Shoulder Raises?

Adjust the smith machine to an incline position. Stand facing the machine with your feet shoulder-width apart. Grasp the bar with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Use a Smith machine and keep the movement controlled through the full range. The animated GIF above shows the complete rep at normal speed.

What muscles does the Smith Incline Shoulder Raises work?

The Smith Incline Shoulder Raises primarily targets the serratus anterior. It is classified as a chest exercise and is performed with a Smith machine.

How many sets and reps of the Smith Incline Shoulder Raises should I do?

For muscle growth: 3 sets of 10-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. The fixed path lets you push closer to failure safely. Adjust the load rather than the rep target if form breaks down before the final rep.

Is the Smith Incline Shoulder Raises good for beginners?

Yes. The Smith Incline Shoulder Raises is a beginner-level movement, so it is a reasonable place to start. Keep the load light enough that you can control every rep and stop 2-3 reps short of failure while you learn the pattern.

What can I do instead of the Smith Incline Shoulder Raises?

Try the Scapula Push-up, Dumbbell Incline Shoulder Raise or the Barbell Incline Shoulder Raise. Each trains the serratus anterior with a similar movement pattern, so you can swap based on the equipment you have available.

Is the Smith Incline Shoulder Raises the same as the incline smith shoulder raises?

Yes. The Smith Incline Shoulder Raises is also commonly called the incline smith shoulder raises or the incline smith shoulder raise. Different gyms and training programs label it differently, but "incline smith shoulder raises" and "incline smith shoulder raise" refer to this same movement.