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Calf Press 5s · no sound

Calf Press

A plantar flexion press on a horizontal leg press, driving the plate with the balls of the feet only.

Primary muscle
Calves
Equipment
Machine
Difficulty
Beginner
Movement
Isolation
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How to do it

  1. Load the machine and sit with your back flat against the pad.
  2. Place your feet on the plate at shoulder width and extend your legs.
  3. Release the safeties, then slide your feet down so only the balls contact the plate.
  4. Keep the knees just short of lockout and let your heels drop into a full stretch.
  5. Push the plate away by extending the ankles and squeeze at the top.
  6. Lower under control, then re-engage the safeties before stepping out.

Common mistakes

  • Bending and straightening the knees, which turns the movement back into a leg press.
  • Bouncing out of the bottom, which skips the stretched position where the calves work hardest.
  • Pressing through the toes rather than the ball of the foot, which cramps the forefoot.
  • Repositioning the feet with the safeties disengaged, which risks the plate dropping.

Muscles worked

Primary
Calves

Same movement, other equipment

Banded Eccentric Tibialis Raise Beginner Banded Eccentric Tibialis Raise Calves Resistance band Bent-Knee Soleus Raise Beginner Bent-Knee Soleus Raise Calves Bodyweight Bodyweight Donkey Calf Raise Beginner Bodyweight Donkey Calf Raise Calves Bodyweight Dumbbell Single Leg Calf Raise Beginner Dumbbell Single Leg Calf Raise Calves Dumbbell

Plans that include the Calf Press

Full Body Pump
Full Body Pump
Days a week
3× a week
Session
~40 min
Level
Intermediate
Equipment
Gym
 High Rep Machine Endurance
High Rep Machine Endurance
Days a week
3× a week
Session
~50 min
Level
Beginner
Equipment
Gym
 Hypertrophy Starter
Hypertrophy Starter
Days a week
3× a week
Session
~50 min
Level
Beginner
Equipment
Gym

Similar exercises

Leg Press Calf Raise Beginner Leg Press Calf Raise Calves Machine Smith Machine Calf Raise Beginner Smith Machine Calf Raise Calves Machine Standing Calf Raise (Machine) Beginner Standing Calf Raise (Machine) Calves Machine Long Run Intermediate Long Run Calves Machine Tempo Run Intermediate Tempo Run Calves Machine

Good to know

What muscles does the Calf Press work?
Mainly the calves.
What equipment do you need for the Calf Press?
It uses a machine. Without it, the Banded Eccentric Tibialis Raise and the Bent-Knee Soleus Raise train the same muscles the same way.
Is the Calf Press good for beginners?
GymVim rates it beginner.

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