Hammer Strength Plate Loaded Iso-Lateral Super Incline Press

The Hammer Strength Plate Loaded Iso-Lateral Super Incline Press is an incline press machine that fills the gap between a shoulder press machine and an ordinary incline press. The movement path runs diagonally upwards and forwards, much like the pushing action you see in a lot of sports. That makes this a machine for the serious home gym, the personal training studio or the semi-professional space where upper body strength is built up in a targeted way rather than just finished off.

Iso-Lateral Super Incline Press at a glance

• Movement path between a shoulder press and an incline press: you load the front shoulder and the upper chest at an angle you cannot train on its own with a barbell bench.
• Iso-lateral on each arm: each arm moves independently, so your strong side cannot quietly take over the work of the weaker one.
• Handles between a neutral and an overhand grip: the grip sits at that point deliberately, which keeps your wrist in a natural position during heavy sets.
• Six storage pegs for plates: your weight hangs on the machine rather than on a separate rack across the room.
• Starting resistance of 5 kg per arm: unloaded the machine moves lightly, so your warm-up sets stay worthwhile.
• Generously adjustable seat: several adjustment points bring the pushing line to the right height for your build.
• Anchor holes in the feet: you can bolt the machine to the floor for a completely quiet set-up.
• 11-gauge steel with powder coating: heavy gauge steel with an electrostatically applied layer, built for intensive use by several people.

Why a super incline rather than just a shoulder press

A shoulder press pushes straight up, an incline press pushes diagonally upwards from a bench. This machine sits exactly in between: the arms go up and forwards at the same time. That is the movement you make when you push off, shove or throw, and it usually falls outside what fixed equipment covers. If you have been pressing for years and notice that the upper chest and the front shoulder are lagging behind, this is the angle missing from your programme.

What independent arms give you

With a single connected handle your strongest arm quietly takes over part of the work, certainly in the last two reps of a heavy set. Here each side moves separately, so you see the difference straight away. And you can act on it: an extra set for the side that is lagging, or a different weight on each side. Over a training block of a few months, that stops a left to right difference from becoming permanent in your pressing.

Loading and building resistance

Per arm you load a maximum of five 20 kg plates, so 100 kg a side, on top of a starting resistance of 5 kg per arm. That range is broad enough to keep building on for years, even if you already press heavy. Because you load with plates rather than a weight stack, the resistance feels more direct and you notice the weight from the very first centimetre. Changing plates does take a little more time than moving a pin, but with six storage pegs on the machine you never have to walk for them.

Construction and set-up

The frame is built from 11-gauge steel with an electrostatically applied powder coating, chosen for adhesion and wear resistance in daily use. The pads are moulded foam, so there is no wrapped filling that starts to shift over time. The machine measures 130 cm long, 155 cm wide and 140 cm high, and weighs 164 kg. That 140 cm build height is low for a pressing machine, which means it also fits a basement or garage with a lowered ceiling. The feet have holes for floor anchoring.

Worth knowing

Weight plates are not included and because you load each arm separately, you are effectively buying the weight twice. Beyond that, this is a machine for one pushing movement: for pulling work, legs and core you will need additional equipment. At 164 kg unit weight it is also not a machine you push aside for a moment, so choose a permanent spot on a level, solid floor in advance.

Frequently asked questions about the Iso-Lateral Super Incline Press

What is the difference from an ordinary incline press?

The movement path. An ordinary incline press pushes diagonally upwards, whereas the work arms here go up and forwards at the same time. That puts this machine between a shoulder press and an incline press, and it loads the upper chest and the front shoulder at an angle you cannot train on its own with a bench. For anyone who has been pressing for a while, that is often exactly the missing variation.

How much weight can I load?

Per arm you load a maximum of five 20 kg plates, so 100 kg a side. On top of that comes a starting resistance of 5 kg per arm. Plates are not included, so you buy those separately, and because each side is loaded separately you need the weight twice over. The machine has six storage pegs so your plates stay within reach.

How much space do I need?

The machine itself measures 130 x 155 x 140 cm and weighs 164 kg. On top of that allow clear space on both sides to load plates and to get in and out, roughly half a metre all round. The height of 140 cm is relatively low, so a lowered ceiling is rarely the problem here. The width of 155 cm is usually the deciding measurement, so measure that carefully.

Is this machine suitable for beginners?

Yes, a guided movement is actually friendlier for beginners than free weights, because you do not have to stabilise the path yourself. The starting resistance of 5 kg per arm lets you start light and build up in small steps. The seat adjusts at several points so the pushing line matches your height. That said, this is professional equipment, so for someone just starting out it is a substantial investment.

Do I have to anchor the machine to the floor?

You do not have to, but you can: the feet have holes for floor anchoring. At 164 kg unit weight plus the loaded plates, the machine stands stable on a level surface without being bolted down. Anchoring is mainly worth it in a studio or shared space where the machine is used all day long. On a wooden upper floor, a solid and even surface matters more than the anchoring itself.

Why are the handles angled the way they are?

The grips sit deliberately between a neutral and an overhand grip. That keeps your wrist in a natural position while you stay in the pushing line of the movement. With a strict overhand grip, more rotation lands on the wrist at this angle. So you do not have to adjust or compensate for anything in order to press heavy.