Exercise guide · Beginner · Compound

Smith Back Shrug: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The smith back shrug is a strength exercise targeting the trapezius muscles, performed using a smith machine. It involves lifting the shoulders straight up towards the ears while holding a barbell, focusing on squeezing the traps at the top of the movement.

Primary muscles
Traps
Secondary muscles
Shoulders
Equipment
Smith Machine
Level · type
Beginner · Compound
Demonstration of the smith back shrug
Front view: muscles worked by the smith back shrug. Primary: traps. Secondary: shoulders.
Back view: muscles worked by the smith back shrug. Primary: traps. Secondary: shoulders.
Primary Secondary

How to do the smith back shrug

  1. Step 1: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
  2. Step 2: Grasp the barbell with an overhand grip, hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
  3. Step 3: Keep your arms straight and allow the barbell to hang in front of your thighs.
  4. Step 4: Lift your shoulders straight up towards your ears, squeezing your traps at the top.
  5. Step 5: Hold for a moment, then lower your shoulders back down to the starting position.
  6. Step 6: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the smith back shrug by training goal
Goal Sets Reps Rest Effort
Strength 3–5 3–6 3–5 min 1–3 reps in reserve
Muscle growth 3–4 6–12 2–3 min 1–2 reps in reserve
Muscular endurance 2–3 12–20 1–2 min 1–3 reps in reserve

Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.

Smith Back Shrug alternatives

More exercises that train the traps as their main target:

More traps exercises

See the best trap exercises, ranked →

Sources

  1. American College of Sports Medicine. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):687-708.
  2. Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Strength and hypertrophy adaptations between low- vs. high-load resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(12):3508-3523.
  3. Schoenfeld BJ, Pope ZK, Benik FM, et al. Longer interset rest periods enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res. 2016;30(7):1805-1812.
  4. Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Orazem J, Sabol F. Effects of resistance training performed to repetition failure or non-failure on muscular strength and hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2022;11(2):202-211.

Step-by-step instructions and demonstration media are from the ExerciseDB exercise dataset.

This guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain and speak to a doctor or physiotherapist about injuries or health conditions before starting a new programme.