Standing Calf Raise (Smith Machine)

How to do it

1. Set the bar just below the base of your neck and step under it with the bar across your upper traps.
2. Stand with the balls of your feet on a step, hip width, heels free.
3. Keep your knees slightly bent and rise by extending your ankles as far as you can.
4. Lower under control until your heels drop below the step.

Key cues

• Balls of the feet on the step
• Knees slightly bent
• Rise fully
• Heels drop under control

Common mistakes

• Not letting your heels drop below the step
• Cutting the rise short
• Bending and straightening your knees to move the bar
• Leaning forward off the bar

Muscles worked

Primary

Calves

Equipment

Smith machine and step or weight plate.

Variations

• Standing Calf Raise (Machine)

  Machine · Calves · Isolation

• Standing Calf Raise (Dumbbell)

  Dumbbell · Calves · Isolation

• Standing Calf Raise (Barbell)

  Barbell · Calves · Isolation

• Standing Calf Raise (Bodyweight)

  Bodyweight · Isolation

References

1. Fitbod: Smith Machine Calf Raise
2. StrengthLog: Barbell Standing Calf Raise