Calf Press

How to do the Calf Press

1. Adjust the seat so that your legs are only slightly bent in the start position. The balls of your feet should be firmly on the platform.
2. Select an appropriate weight, and grasp the handles. This will be your starting position.
3. Straighten the legs by extending the knees, just barely lifting the weight from the stack. Your ankle should be fully flexed, toes pointing up. Execute the movement by pressing downward through the balls of your feet as far as possible.
4. After a brief pause, reverse the motion and repeat.

Muscles worked

Role	Muscles
Primary	calves
Equipment	machine
Difficulty	beginner
Type	isolation

No machine? Train the same muscles with these

Ordered by how likely you are to own the 6 options.

Calf Raises - With Bands Resistance Bands Calf Raise On A Dumbbell Dumbbell Dumbbell Seated One-Leg Calf Raise Dumbbell Standing Dumbbell Calf Raise Dumbbell Barbell Seated Calf Raise Barbell Rocking Standing Calf Raise Barbell

Harder than the Calf Press

Standing Dumbbell Calf Raise intermediate · Dumbbell Donkey Calf Raises intermediate · Other Equipment Calf Raise On A Dumbbell intermediate · Dumbbell

Superset the Calf Press with

Opposing quads work — alternate sets without extra rest.

Leg Extensions quads Single-Leg Leg Extension quads Chair Squat quads Hack Squat quads

Common questions

What muscles does the Calf Press work?

The Calf Press primarily works the calves. Barbell Seated Calf Raise, Calf Press On The Leg Press Machine, and Calf Raise On A Dumbbell train the same muscle, across 7 equipment types.

What equipment do you need for the Calf Press?

A Machine. Without a machine, Calf Raises - With Bands, Calf Raise On A Dumbbell, and Dumbbell Seated One-Leg Calf Raise train the same muscle, and 7 of the catalogue's options for this muscle need no equipment.

Is the Calf Press suitable for beginners?

Yes, the Calf Press is rated beginner. Standing Dumbbell Calf Raise, Donkey Calf Raises, and Calf Raise On A Dumbbell are the progressions from here.

Where should the Calf Press go in a workout?

Late — the Calf Press is isolation work, so it follows your compounds. Supersetting it with Leg Extensions and Single-Leg Leg Extension cuts session time without extra rest.

Similar exercises

Barbell Seated Calf Raise Barbell Calf Press On The Leg Press Machine Machine Calf Raise On A Dumbbell Dumbbell Calf Raises - With Bands Resistance Bands Donkey Calf Raises Other Equipment Dumbbell Seated One-Leg Calf Raise Dumbbell