Smith incline shoulder raises target the serratus anterior and are performed on a smith machine. The movement involves raising the barbell upwards while standing at an incline, focusing on shoulder and upper chest engagement.
Also Works
ShouldersTrapezius
How to Perform
1
Adjust the smith machine to an incline position.
2
Stand facing the machine with your feet shoulder-width apart.
3
Grasp the bar with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
4
Keep your back straight and core engaged.
5
Raise the barbell up towards the ceiling, leading with your elbows.
6
Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the barbell back down to the starting position.
7
Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Pro Tips
•Lead with your elbows, raising them up and forward to engage the serratus anterior.
•Keep the movement controlled and avoid using momentum; the serratus anterior is a small muscle.
•Focus on protracting your shoulder blades (pushing them apart) at the top of the movement.
Common Mistakes
•Turning it into a shrug by just raising the shoulders straight up instead of protracting forward.
•Using too much weight and compensating with the traps instead of the serratus.
•Leaning back instead of maintaining the incline angle throughout the movement.