Intermediate exercise

Smith Machine Bent-Over Row

Also called Smith Machine Row

  • Muscle Growth
  • Bodybuilding

Technique

How to perform Smith Machine Bent-Over Row

  1. Set the barbell attached to the smith machine to a height that is just below knee height.
  2. Bend your knees slightly and bring your torso forward, by bending at the waist, while keeping the back straight until it is almost parallel to the floor. Make sure that you keep the head up. Now grasp the barbell using an overhand (pronated) grip and unlock it from the smith machine rack. Then let it hang directly in front of you as your arms hang extended perpendicular to the floor and your torso. This is your starting position. While keeping the torso stationary, lift the barbell as you breathe out, keeping the elbows close to the body and not doing any force with the forearm other than holding the weights. On the top contracted position, squeeze the back muscles and hold for a second.
  3. Slowly lower the weight again to the starting position as you inhale.
  4. Repeat for the prescribed repetitions.

Programming relevance

Muscles involved

Primary targets: Latissimus Dorsi, Rhomboid Major, Trapezius.

MuscleScoreRole
Latissimus Dorsi1.0Target, Mover
Rhomboid Major0.9Target, Mover
Trapezius0.9Target, Mover
Brachialis0.5Mover
Brachioradialis0.5Mover, Stabilizer
Posterior Deltoid0.5Mover, Stabilizer
Teres Major0.5Mover
Erector Spinae0.3Stabilizer