✅ The PERFECT Incline Smith Machine Bench Press 1️⃣ Grip Width: Use a grip about 1.5× shoulder width. 2️⃣ Grip Style: I recommend a thumbless grip only on the Smith machine. This lets you position the bar on the base of your palm (your strongest point) and makes it easier to keep your elbows tucked. Avoid thumbless grip on a free-weight bench press — it’s unsafe. Even on the Smith Machine, there’s still some risk, so beginners should start without weights, get comfortable with the movement, and