Shoulders exercise · smith machine
Smith Behind Neck Press
The smith behind neck press is a smith machine exercise that targets the shoulders (deltoids), with the triceps and upper back assisting.
- Target muscle
- Delts
- Also works
- Triceps, upper back
- Equipment
- Smith machine
- Body part
- Shoulders
How to do the smith behind neck press
- Adjust the seat height of the smith machine so that the bar is at shoulder level.
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
- Grasp the bar with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Lift the bar off the rack and step back, maintaining a stable stance.
- Lower the bar down to the back of your neck, keeping your elbows pointing forward.
- Press the bar up overhead until your arms are fully extended.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the bar back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps
For muscle growth, 3–4 sets of 8–12 reps with 60–90 seconds of rest is a proven starting point. For strength, use a heavier weight for 3–5 sets of 3–6 reps and rest 2–3 minutes. Add a little weight once you hit the top of your rep range on every set.
Muscles worked
The main muscle is the shoulders (deltoids). The triceps and upper back work as secondary muscles. See all shoulder exercises or every smith machine exercise.
