Calf Press

What it is

This machine-based movement isolates and strengthens the powerful muscles in your lower legs, specifically your gastrocnemius and soleus, commonly known as your calves. You perform it by pressing your toes down against resistance to elevate your heels. This is a fundamental exercise for building lower leg endurance and power.

Technique tips

• Set the seat so your knees have a slight bend at the start.
• Keep the balls of your feet firmly planted on the platform.
• Fully flex your ankles at the bottom, letting your toes point up.
• Press down through your forefoot as far as possible.
• Briefly pause at the peak of the contraction.
• Control the weight as you slowly return to the starting position.

How to track your progress

Log the weight and reps of each set. Straddly turns every set into an estimated one-rep max, so a heavier single and a strong set of eight both count as progress, and it flags a personal record the moment you beat your best.