Smith Machine

stellios

Ive been doing a bit of reading and it seems that the smith machine is a waste of time for squats and bench press, is this correct?

xgtdec

I wouldnt say a waste of time...when i was starting squats i used the smith machine all the time and found it a good base before i moved to the rack....i still do shoulder press in it from time to time....any particular article that says its a waste??

stellios

xgtdec wrote: »

I wouldnt say a waste of time...when i was starting squats i used the smith machine all the time and found it a good base before i moved to the rack....i still do shoulder press in it from time to time....any particular article that says its a waste??

well mabey waste is a bit strong, but the stronglift programme dismisses any non free weights and the cross fit website also..

ive just strated doing weights regularly in gym, dont have acess to power rack but dont want to be using smith for these exercises if they are no good..

Hanley

It's one of those things you'll come full circle on.

When you first start traning you use it cos you know no better, as you start to learn you hate it because it's not cool and everyone else says it's the devil, and once you get past that and truly understand what you're doing, it can be useful for certain applications.

Stay away from it for now if you can. Learn how to squat and bench with a bar and rack.

DribblingRobot

Hey I've a question about this but no point in starting another thread.

There's no squat/power rack in my gym. I'm fairly new to all this so I was using the fixed-weight barbells. I've increased the weight now to the point where I'm not comfortable lifting them up over my head to get it onto my shoulders. So do I have to use the smith machine or are there any other tricks I can use? Do dumbbell squats work the same muscles?

squod

You could try an olympic front squat or zercher squat. Or a bro lift.........

WHIP IT!

squod wrote: »

Or a bro lift.........

He ain't heavy...... ?

El Horseboxo

I'd use it on occasion in the local pay as you go as i invested in my own gym at home. Especially when i'm hitting a wall on the barbell or when i just want to put a shít load more weight on a bar than i could do on the free weights or without a spotter. And i like using it for close grip bench press as i find it can help in isolating the triceps.

I think the full circle comment mentioned above is quite apt and very true in my case anyways.

Remmy

squod wrote: »

You could try an olympic front squat or zercher squat. Or a bro lift.........

ha bro lift...I like that!:D

jugger0

Smith machines are gay and they hurt my knees but if you want to use one thats cool brah.