Ellipse Olympic glute machine, plate loaded hip extension

The Ellipse Olympic glute machine is a plate loaded station weighing 140 kg on a 147 x 142 cm base, with a spring pin seat height adjustment and yellow coded controls. It isolates hip extension, the movement that builds the gluteus maximus, with the trunk supported so the lower back does not become the limiting factor. In a commercial gym the glute area is now among the most heavily used zones on the floor, and a dedicated station removes the queue that forms at the cable machine and the hip thrust bench.

Technical specification

Guided hip extension and why the setup matters

Hip extension performed free, whether as a barbell hip thrust or a cable kickback, is limited by how well the athlete can stabilise the trunk and the standing leg. A guided station removes both variables, so the load reaches the glute rather than being capped by balance. The biomechanics here follow a natural motor path, and the ergonomic seat and back pad hold the pelvis in a physiologically correct position through the range.

Setup is deliberately simple, and that is a commercial consideration rather than a technical one. Every adjustment is marked in yellow and the seat height changes with a spring pin, so a member can position themselves correctly without staff intervention. In a busy glute area that difference decides whether the machine is used properly or used badly.

• Isolated hip extension for the gluteus maximus
• Spring pin seat height, yellow coded adjustments
• 105 x 20 mm nylon pulleys on sealed 6202RS bearings
• Aluminium handles and foot plates at the contact points
• Frame and arm colours customisable to the club identity

Installation and upkeep

The machine takes 2.09 m2 and stands only 110.7 cm high, so it sits comfortably inside a glute zone without blocking sightlines. Net weight is 140 kg before plates; keep a plate tree adjacent, as loading frequency is high on a station used mainly for repetition work with moderate increments.

Servicing covers the sealed pulley bearings, the plate horns, the spring pin mechanism and the upholstery. The PU foam and synthetic leather cover should be wiped with a neutral cleaner, and the two coat powder finish with lacquer is what keeps the frame presentable in the most photographed corner of a modern gym.

Frequently asked questions

Which muscles does the machine work?

Primarily the gluteus maximus through hip extension, with the hamstrings assisting and the trunk stabilisers working isometrically against the support pads.

Why choose it over a hip thrust bench?

A hip thrust requires a barbell, a pad and a technique induction, and it monopolises a bench and a bar. The guided station is used unaided, loads faster with small plates and stays occupied for shorter periods, which suits a high traffic glute area.

Are Olympic plates supplied?

No. The station carries a plate support and is quoted without weights, so an existing plate stock can be used. Plates and a tree are priced separately.