Hammer Strength Plate Loaded Iso-Lateral Incline Press

The Hammer Strength Plate Loaded Iso-Lateral Incline Press is a strength machine for incline pressing, aimed at the upper chest, the front shoulder and the triceps. Each arm moves independently along a path that converges and diverges, so your strong side cannot take over the work of your weaker one. Intended for the serious home gym, the personal training studio or the semi-professional space where upper chest work is a fixed part of the schedule.

Iso-Lateral Incline Press at a glance

• Inclined pressing angle: the emphasis lands on the upper chest and the front shoulder, exactly the part that often lags behind with flat pressing.
• Iso-lateral movement path: each arm has its own weight peg and handle, which brings left to right differences into view and lets you address them.
• Horizontal ergonomic handles: the grip sits between neutral and overhand, which keeps your wrists in a natural position during heavy sets.
• Starting resistance of 3.6 kg per arm: you can start light and learn the movement first before you begin loading.
• Loading up to five 20 kg plates per arm: room to keep making progress on your pressing for years.
• Six storage pegs for plates: more storage than most machines in this line, so your whole plate set sits on the machine.
• 11-gauge steel frame with powder coating: heavy gauge steel with an electrostatically applied layer, built for intensive use.
• Rubber feet with anchor holes: the machine stays put on the floor and can be bolted down if you want.

Why separate upper chest work is worth it

In most schedules flat pressing gets plenty of attention by default, which leaves the upper chest lagging behind. An inclined pressing angle shifts the emphasis upwards and brings the front shoulder into it more strongly. On an incline barbell bench that means setting up, unracking and balancing every single time; here you step in and press. Especially if you train on your own, that means more heavy sets in the same amount of time.

Loading each side separately

The two handles work completely independently of each other and follow a path that converges as you press out. That means you notice straight away when one side fails earlier, something that stays entirely hidden with a single connected handle. You can act on it with an extra set or a different load on that side. And with a starting resistance of 3.6 kg per arm you can begin in a very controlled way, even if you want to build that weaker side up separately.

Changing plates without interruption

Six storage pegs is generous for a machine of this size: your whole set of plates can hang on the machine instead of sitting in a rack on the other side of the room. Per arm you load a maximum of five 20 kg plates, so 100 kg a side. That makes descending sets easy to run: you go to failure, take a plate off each side and carry straight on. In a shared space it also helps that the machine is always left tidy.

Space and set-up

The machine measures 117 cm long, 140 cm wide and 191 cm high, and it weighs 148 kg. The height of 191 cm is the thing to check in advance if you have a basement or garage with a lowered ceiling. The length of 117 cm is actually modest for a strength machine, so it does not stick far out into the room. Do allow clear space on both sides to change plates and to get in and out.

Worth knowing

Weight plates are not included, and because you load each side separately you are effectively buying the weight twice. On top of that, this is a machine for one specific pressing angle: for flat pressing and for pulling work you will need additional equipment. If you only have room for one or two machines, a more versatile machine with several pressing positions is a more logical starting point. This incline press only becomes really interesting once you start building a complete set-up.

Frequently asked questions about the Iso-Lateral Incline Press

Which muscles does the Incline Press work?

Mainly the upper part of the chest, the front shoulder and the triceps. The inclined pressing angle shifts the emphasis upwards compared with a flat bench press movement. Because each arm moves separately, each side gets exactly the load you put on it. For complete chest training you would usually combine this with a flat pressing movement.

How much weight can I load?

Each arm takes a maximum of five 20 kg plates, so 100 kg a side. The starting resistance is 3.6 kg per arm, so you can start light and build up in small steps. The machine has six storage pegs for the plates you are not using at that moment. Plates are not supplied, so you buy those separately.

How much space and height do I need?

The machine is 117 x 140 x 191 cm. The height of 191 cm is usually the limiting factor, so measure your ceiling before you order. In length it is actually manageable at 117 cm for a machine of this type. Also keep space clear on both sides to slide plates on and off and to get in and out.

How does this differ from pressing on an incline barbell bench?

The machine fixes the path and takes the balancing away, so you can train closer to your limit without a spotter. The handles do converge and diverge, so the movement does not feel as tight as on a machine with a straight path. On a barbell bench the stabilising muscles do more work, which is an advantage if you are training specifically for free weight exercises. In practice the two complement each other.

Is this machine suitable for beginners?

Yes, a guided pressing movement is straightforward for beginners because all you have to watch is your execution. The starting resistance of 3.6 kg per arm is low enough to learn the movement unloaded first. The seat can be set in several positions, so the handles come to the right height for your build. That said, this is equipment from the professional segment, so a substantial investment for someone just starting out.

Do I have to anchor the machine to the floor?

You do not have to: the machine comes on rubber feet that stop it sliding. Those same feet have holes so you can bolt it to the floor if you want. At 148 kg unit weight plus the loaded plates, the whole thing stands well on a level surface. Anchoring is mainly of interest in a studio where a lot of people train on it every day.