TETSUBody-Up vs Smith Close-Grip Bench Press
The Body-Up and the Smith Close-Grip Bench Press both train the triceps as their primary muscle. The Body-Up is bodyweight-only while the Smith Close-Grip Bench Press uses a smith machine. Here is how they compare and when to pick each.
Side-by-side comparison
| Body-Up | Smith Close-Grip Bench Press | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary muscle | triceps | triceps |
| Body part | upper arms | upper arms |
| Supporting muscles | chest and shoulders | chest and shoulders |
| Equipment | bodyweight | smith machine |
| Steps in our guide | 5 | 5 |
How each one starts
Body-Up — first steps
- Start by placing your hands on a raised surface, such as a bench or parallel bars, with your palms facing down and fingers pointing forward.
- Extend your legs out in front of you, keeping your heels on the ground and your body straight.
Smith Close-Grip Bench Press — first steps
- Adjust the seat height and position yourself on the bench with your feet flat on the ground.
- Grasp the barbell with a close grip, slightly narrower than shoulder-width apart.
Full step-by-step guides are linked below.
Which should you choose?
The Body-Up needs no equipment and scales through leverage, tempo and reps. The Smith Close-Grip Bench Press fixes the bar path so you can push close to failure with less balance demand. If your gym has both options, neither is a wrong choice: pick the one that feels strongest through a full range, and swap after 6 to 8 weeks to keep the triceps adapting.
Full form guides
Common questions
Is the Body-Up better than the Smith Close-Grip Bench Press?
Neither is universally better — both train the triceps as the primary mover. The Body-Up needs no equipment and scales through leverage, tempo and reps, while the Smith Close-Grip Bench Press fixes the bar path so you can push close to failure with less balance demand. Choose based on your equipment and which movement you can progress consistently.
Can I do both the Body-Up and the Smith Close-Grip Bench Press in the same program?
Yes, but usually not in the same session — they overlap heavily on the triceps. A common setup is one as your main movement and the other on a second training day, or alternating them block by block.
Do the Body-Up and the Smith Close-Grip Bench Press work the same muscles?
Yes — the primary muscle is the same (triceps) and both rely on the same supporting muscles: chest and shoulders.
Track it in Tetsu
Tetsu tracks both movements separately, keeps your PRs per exercise, and tells you which one is actually progressing. Free to start.