Pushgard turns each counted push-up into a hit on the monster in front of you. Half reps don’t land, so your form gets better on its own.
How to do a push-up the camera will count
Hands under your shoulders, a little wider than your chest, and your body in one line from head to heels. Lower until your chest is close to the floor, then push back up until your arms are straight. Pushgard counts the rep only when your arms fold and your shoulders come closer to the camera.
Counted
The arms fold, hands come close to the shoulders, and the chest comes down to the floor. Both signals reach depth, so the rep counts.
Shown from the side for clarity. In the app the phone stands in front of you.
Four steps, one clean rep
Chest, triceps, the front of your shoulders and your core all work in every rep. Hands closer together make the chest and triceps work harder than a wide stance.
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1Set up
Hands on the floor under your shoulders, a little wider than your chest. Feet together, body in one line from head to heels.
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2Lower
Bend your elbows and lower your whole body at once. Keep your hips in line with your shoulders and heels.
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3Bottom
Go down until your chest is close to the floor. Elbows point back, not straight out to the sides.
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4Push up
Press the floor away until your arms are straight again. That top position is where the next rep starts.
What breaks a rep, and what to try instead
Common mistakes
- Half reps feel like work but don’t count. Go down until your chest is close to the floor. Not sure your rep goes deep enough? Read what counts as a full push-up.
- If your hips sag while your arms stay straight, squeeze your glutes and keep one line from head to heels.
- Elbows flared straight out to the sides. Most coaches cue elbows back at an angle rather than straight out.
- Reaching for the floor with your chin shortens the rep. Lead with your chest.
Easier
Incline push-ups with your hands on a bench or a table, wall push-ups, or push-ups from your knees. Each keeps the same movement with less of your weight on your arms.
Harder
Feet on a step or a chair, diamond push-ups with your hands together, a slower way down, or a short pause at the bottom of every rep.
Phone in front, screen facing you
Your head, shoulders, elbows and hands need to be in the frame. A side view is not needed.
The front camera reads your upper body. A push-up counts when your arms fold, hands closer to your shoulders, and your shoulders look wider in the frame, because you came closer to the phone, and then both come back to the top position from the start of the set.
The counter learns that top position while you hold the plank in the first second, so depth is measured against your own body. The pose model runs on the phone, and the camera image is not uploaded.
The push-up counter All four exercises
This page explains technique; it is not medical advice. If you have an injury, a heart condition or pain during the movement, check with a doctor or physiotherapist first, and stop a set that hurts.
Push-ups, answered
Framing, missed reps, rest and how many to do.
Does the camera need to see my whole body?
No. For push-ups your head, shoulders, elbows and hands need to be in the frame. The phone stands in front of you, not to the side.
Why was a rep not counted?
Two signals have to agree: your arms fold and your shoulders come closer to the camera. A shallow rep, or one where only your hips move, does not pass.
Can I rest during a set?
Yes, rest at the top with straight arms. In the tower the first 25 seconds of a pause are free; after that the monster starts hitting back.
How many push-ups should I do a day?
Start with sets at about half your max. The daily push-up calculator splits that into sets and shows the next four weeks.
Sources
- Calatayud J et al., 2014. Muscle activity levels in upper-body push exercises with different loads and stability conditions. The Physician and Sportsmedicine 42(4).
- Cogley RM et al., 2005. Comparison of muscle activation using various hand positions during the push-up exercise. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 19(3).
Free on iPhone and Android
Your first push-up hits a slime
Stand the phone in front of you and do one set.