A push-up counter that refuses half reps

Why push-up counts are usually wrong

Push-ups are the exercise people cheat on most, and almost never on purpose. Around rep 12 the chest stops going as low. Around rep 15 the arms stop locking out. You still count them, because from inside the set they feel like reps. A counter that sits on the floor and looks at your elbows does not have that problem.

What FormMate checks on every push-up

• Elbow angle at the bottom. The rep has to reach depth before it is a candidate. A dip that turns around early is ignored.
• Elbow angle at the top. The arms have to straighten again. Stopping short of lockout on the way up is the most common way a push-up set gets inflated.
• Direction. Down, then up, then it counts. Pausing at the bottom does not add reps.

Knee push-ups

Knee push-ups are a separate exercise in the app with their own gates, so the counter does not expect a straight-leg plank. Pick it from the list and the same depth and lockout rules apply from the knees.

Where to put the phone

On the floor, side-on, a few feet away, leaning against something. The app draws the skeleton on screen so you can check it can see your shoulder, elbow and wrist before you start. A wall behind you helps; a busy background does not matter.

Cues you will hear

"Chest all the way down." "Keep hips in line." "Lower with control." One cue at a time, spoken between reps, and you can mute them. The count itself is spoken on every rep so you never have to look at the screen mid-set.