60 Minutes Beginner Hamstrings Workout with Smith Machine
A 60 minutes muscle building workout targeting your hamstrings using smith machine equipment. 5 exercises, 20 total sets, designed for beginner lifters.
60 Minutes
Duration
20
Total Sets
8-12 reps
Rep Range
~840
Est. Calories
The Workout
Start with this as your primary movement. Warm up with 2 lighter sets first.
Form cues
- Sit in the leg press with your back flat against the pad.
- Place feet shoulder-width apart in the middle of the platform.
- Lower the platform until your knees reach 90 degrees or slightly below.
Position a bench inside the Smith machine and sit with your upper back against it.
Form cues
- Position a bench inside the Smith machine and sit with your upper back against it.
- Unlock the bar at hip level and lower your hips toward the floor.
- Drive your hips up until your torso is parallel to the floor and shins are vertical.
Position the bar on your upper traps and stagger your feet with one leg forward.
Form cues
- Position the bar on your upper traps and stagger your feet with one leg forward.
- Lower your back knee straight down toward the floor while keeping your torso upright.
- Keep your front shin as vertical as possible — adjust foot placement to achieve this.
Set the bar on your upper traps and unrack with both feet under the bar.
Form cues
- Set the bar on your upper traps and unrack with both feet under the bar.
- Step one foot straight back and lower until both knees form 90-degree angles.
- Keep your torso upright and front knee tracking over your toes.
Finish strong — take the last set close to failure.
Form cues
- Set the bar on your upper traps and unrack in a split stance.
- Position your front foot far enough forward that your knee stays behind your toes at the bottom.
- Lower straight down until your rear knee is just off the ground.
Why This Workout Works
This workout is built around the principles of muscle building training. Use moderate loads (65-80% of your 1RM) with controlled eccentrics and full range of motion. Prioritize progressive overload by adding reps before adding weight. Train each muscle group 2x per week with 10-20 hard sets per muscle per week.
Training Parameters
- Rep Range: 8-12 reps — the hypertrophy sweet spot for maximum muscle growth
- Rest Periods: 60-90 seconds — long enough for quality reps, short enough for metabolic stress
- Sets Per Exercise: 3-4 sets — optimized for muscle building
Hamstrings Training Tips
- *RDLs are the king of hamstring exercises — feel the stretch at the bottom and squeeze at the top.
- *Include both hip-hinge movements (RDLs) and knee-flexion movements (leg curls) for complete development.
- *Nordic curls build eccentric hamstring strength that prevents pulls and tears.
Get this hamstrings workout personalized for you
Revy's AI will analyze your training history, recovery status, and strength levels to customize every set, rep, and weight for maximum muscle building results.