Smith Machine Reverse Calf Raises

What it is

This exercise specifically targets your calf muscles, including the gastrocnemius and soleus. You will perform a reverse calf raise on a Smith machine, isolating your lower legs. It helps build strength and endurance by extending your toes from a raised platform.

Technique tips

• Keep a slight bend in your knees throughout the movement.
• Extend your toes as high as possible to fully engage your calves.
• Hold the top contracted position for a brief moment.
• Control the descent slowly, feeling the stretch in your calves.
• Exhale as you push up, and inhale as you lower your feet.
• Use the Smith machine for balance, not to bear heavy load.

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.