EGYM Chest Press

How to perform it

1. 1Preparation and positioning. Confirm profile, seat, range, resistance, and mode. Back/glutes on the pad, feet firm, handles closed and symmetric. Shoulders controlled, not pressed maximally down.
2. 2Starting position. Handles close to the chest at a pain-free starting range, forearms roughly in the pressing direction, wrists neutral. Display ready.
3. 3Concentric phase. Press the handles forward evenly; extend the elbows without pushing the shoulders forward. Use the EGYM curve as tempo/range feedback.
4. 4End position / lockout. A near-full, controlled elbow extension without passively locking out. Handles symmetric; the back stays on the pad.
5. 5Eccentric phase. Return over 2–4 seconds or as guided by the mode. Only back to the confirmed pain-free starting range; anticipate the resistance change in Negative/Adaptive mode.
6. 6Breathing and bracing. Exhale on the press, inhale on the return; a moderate brace. No forced breath-holding.
7. 7Valid rep. The digital registration plus a symmetric range, firm pad contact, no shoulders rolling forward, a controlled lockout, and the correct mode.

Common mistakes

• Trusting the auto seat/range blindly

  Fix: Confirm manually before every set — anthropometry/symptoms aren't guaranteed to match.

• Shoulders rolling forward

  Fix: "Keep the chest still" instead of finishing with scapular protraction.

• Chasing the curve instead of technique

  Fix: Prioritize form and reduce the load.

• Not understanding the mode

  Fix: Have it explained, or use the standard mode.

Safety

• Shoulder: horizontal pressing range — use a cleared starting stop.
• Older adults: guided and seated, but entry and range still need review.
• Cardiovascular concerns: load and pressing effort — confirm a cleared mode.
• Reduced bone density: digital load spikes and shoulder load — get professional clearance.

Progressions & alternatives

• regressionPec Deck Fly— A more isolated chest stimulus, if the pressing/elbow component is the limiter.
• progressionBarbell Bench Press— Free pressing and max-strength specificity, once safety/stability prerequisites are met.
• alternativePush-up— A closed-chain option, depending on preference or skill goal.
• prerequisiteBarbell Bench Press— Builds pressing strength without an un-rack limit — the free bar path is checked separately.