Smith Machine Upright Row

Smith Machine Upright Row is a compound strength exercise using machine that trains the traps.

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StrengthMachineBeginnerCompoundPull

Primary muscles: Traps

Secondary muscles: Biceps, Middle Back, Shoulders

How to do it

  1. To begin, set the bar on the smith machine to a height that is around the middle of your thighs. Once the correct height is chosen and the bar is loaded, grasp the bar using a pronated (palms forward) grip that is shoulder width apart. You may need some wrist wraps if using a significant amount of weight.
  2. Lift the barbell up and fully extend your arms with your back straight. There should be a slight bend at the elbows. This is the starting position.
  3. Use your side shoulders to lift the bar as you exhale. The bar should be close to the body as you move it up. Continue to lift it until it nearly touches your chin. Tip: Your elbows should drive the motion. As you lift the bar, your elbows should always be higher than your forearms. Also, keep your torso stationary and pause for a second at the top of the movement.
  4. Lower the bar back down slowly to the starting position. Inhale as you perform this portion of the movement.
  5. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Track it with MyoAmigo

MyoAmigo pre-fills every set of the Smith Machine Upright Row from last time, charts your estimated 1RM trend so you can see strength move without testing a true max, and flags a stall with a concrete fix. It also credits this work toward your weekly Traps volume on the MyoMap heatmap. New to the movement? Start with picking a working weight and progressive overload.

Related Traps exercises

Barbell

Barbell Shrug

Barbell

Barbell Shrug Behind The Back

Cable

Cable Shrugs

Machine

Calf-Machine Shoulder Shrug

Barbell

Clean Shrug

Dumbbell

Dumbbell Shrug

Kettlebells

Kettlebell Sumo High Pull

Machine

Leverage Shrug

Strength

Scapular Pull-Up

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