Squat Machine

K09

Hi,

Is there any difference with doing squats on a smith machine as opposed to the free weights and bar? Is the bar heavier?

Thanks

jugger0

First off the smith machine is a piece of ****.

Now thats out of the way, you cant really squat on a smith machine, the bar is fixed in position so it ruins your bodys mechanics pretty much. If you tried to squat smith machine style with a bar you would fall back on your ass straight away. With a barbell your doing a natural movement, you will grow huge legs and become a tank, a smith machine is unnatural and will give you aids. Learn how to squat and stay away from that contraption unless your using it to hang clothes from.

Hanley

K09 wrote: »

Hi,

Is there any difference with doing squats on a smith machine as opposed to the free weights and bar? Is the bar heavier?

Thanks

It'd be similar to going for a jog as opposed to grabbing your walking frame to meander down to the shops.

K09

jugger0 wrote: »

First off the smith machine is a piece of ****.

Now thats out of the way, you cant really squat on a smith machine, the bar is fixed in position so it ruins your bodys mechanics pretty much. If you tried to squat smith machine style with a bar you would fall back on your ass straight away. With a barbell your doing a natural movement, you will grow huge legs and become a tank, a smith machine is unnatural and will give you aids. Learn how to squat and stay away from that contraption unless your using it to hang clothes from.

Really!! That bad!? Feck it. Have been doing squats the past 4wks on this rather than the free weights.
Will this mean I have made little progress?

weeman2

there is no hidden secret when it comes to training the 3 best exercises are bench. deadlift and squat and you simply cant mimic these movements through any machine.

Simple answer you have been wasting your time. There are loads of variables when squating and by doing what you have done you are eliminating certain muscles and doining the movement in a very un natural way.

Zamboni

K09 wrote: »

Really!! That bad!? Feck it. Have been doing squats the past 4wks on this rather than the free weights.
Will this mean I have made little progress?

Don't worry about it. Everyone starts somewhere.
A lot of us started out doing quarter squats in smith machines...be thankful you've only lost 4 weeks

arybvtcw0eolkf

K09 wrote: »

Really!! That bad!? Feck it. Have been doing squats the past 4wks on this rather than the free weights.
Will this mean I have made little progress?

You'll have made little progress in term's of weight lifted, but it is by no mean's four weeks training lost.

You probably now have the confidence of getting under the bar, many would go straight to the free bar, not like the feel of it and forever shy away from a great exercise.

Next time, use the free bar and don't expect to lift the poundage you had on the Smith machine - slow & steady.