Arms · Smith Machine
Smith Biceps Curl
How to do the smith biceps curl, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Smith Machine
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Curl
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Set the Smith machine bar at hip height and grip it with a shoulder-width, palms-up grip. Stand close to the bar and curl it up toward your shoulders along the fixed track, keeping your elbows at your sides, then lower under control.
- 1Feel your biceps drive the bar up along the fixed path
- 2Keep your elbows pinned at your sides and squeeze at the top
- 3Control the descent since the track removes any need to balance
Common mistakes
- Do not lean back or push with your hips to move the bar
- Avoid letting your elbows drift forward as you curl
- Do not let your wrists bend backward under load
Muscles worked
The smith biceps curl mainly works the biceps, with the forearms assisting.
- BicepsPrimary
- ForearmsSupport
- Front DeltsMinor
Kovo programs the smith biceps curl for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More biceps exercises
- How to do the resistance band bicep curl
- How to do the resistance band hammer curl
- How to do the barbell bicep curl
- How to do the cable bicep curl
- How to do the cable hammer curl
- How to do the overhead bicep curl
Last reviewed June 2026.