Smith Machine?

[Ski]

A couple of questions on the device.
How much does the the bar way with the hooks?
Next does this help or hinder the lifts like bech press, squats and sitting behinder the neck presses?
I use this machine a lot at the gym since I don't have a partner or spotter and was wondering how much I'm helping my bench press or not.


Ski

[Sonny]

A couple of questions on the device.
How much does the the bar way with the hooks?
Next does this help or hinder the lifts like bech press, squats and sitting behinder the neck presses?
I use this machine a lot at the gym since I don't have a partner or spotter and was wondering how much I'm helping my bench press or not.


Ski

Cannot tell you how much they weigh.

If you have access to a power rack, I would use that and just set the pins. The smith forces you on a plane which does not exist using free weights; your stabilizer muscles will not develop. The numbers will not be accurate moving to free weights and your balance will be off. But, you can only do what you can do right?

[mw1111]

The smith bar at my gym is 20# but the one at a gym that i go to 2 or3 times a months is definetly lighter, but i dont know how much.
I use the smith for squats and shoulder shrugs alot, but i dont like it for bench press

[Ski]

Cannot tell you how much they weigh.

If you have access to a power rack, I would use that and just set the pins. The smith forces you on a plane which does not exist using free weights; your stabilizer muscles will not develop. The numbers will not be accurate moving to free weights and your balance will be off. But, you can only do what you can do right?


Yea no access to a power rack. :(
I figured the stabilizer muscles weren't working and it seems like the Smith machine is good for sticking points only.
Got to find a partner!

Thanks,
Ski

[DriverDan]

Most are 15 lbs. When I started working out I used the smith for a long time before I switched to regular free weights. I was afraid I'd hurt myself doing squats and bench without a spot but I've never had any issues.

A few days ago I did smith squats for the first time in many months. Damn it hit my quads hard.

[Ski]

Yea I like them for front squats, the rear squats I do the old fashion way.

Ski

[DriverDan]

Doing front or rear squats on a smith isn't going to make a big difference. The difference of doing normal front and rear is that front keeps you from bending forward as much. Since I smith limits your range of motion it's essentially the same.

[llllern]

foot placement will make the dif

[jw25558]

The bar on my personal smith machine is 50lbs. I dont like it for benching either. I use it some for military press, squats, and standing calf raises.

[Ski]

The bar on my personal smith machine is 50lbs. I dont like it for benching either. I use it some for military press, squats, and standing calf raises.

That was what I thought they were 50lbs but some say less, I don't know. Of course on the new machines with bearing the bar moves so easy it feels like 5lbs!
I do like doing the bench on it and sitting military presses since I can take a wide grip right to the ends. Feels like it works the chest and shoulders more instead of the triceps.

[jw25558]

I love mine for Military Presses and I like to switch around with the bench press. I'll use the Smith a while to build strength and then switch back to free weights to build the balance muscles.

[ShadyGrady]

I have been using the Smith Machine for a couple of years now for benching. I do not feel the wear and tear on my shoulders like I did using the free weights. I am 46 so I really watch for the injuries now, last year as I prepared for a meet I went on my cycle using the free weights and took me about two weeks to get to my regular benching weight. I am like you I do not have a spotter and I do not trust normal knuckleheads in the gym, got hurt a few years back trusting someone I did not know, bottom line I like the Smith for training but when starting a cycle do not use it for benching.

:D
Shady

[fitzgahome]

As far as benching goes, the smith machine controls the weight for you. If your looking to build strength and learning how to control heavy weight using the smith machine is a drawback. I would definately look into a power rack like a couple of the other guys said and if I remember correctly they aren't to expensive if you just get the power rack.

[Budsbythebeach]

by the way people are replying im guessing your using a home gym? if not ive found that going as heavy as you feel comfortable on the bench then hitting hammer strength machines with a weight i can only handle for 5 or less works awesome for me.

maybe you could do that? bench as heavy as you feel able on traditional bench (mostly a warmup deal) then finish with heavier smith machine?

the smiths at my gym feel super light, like 5/10lb

[UNCfan1]

I use the smith machine alot. I would prefer not too, but when u train alone and I don't want to put my trust in guys that I don't know to spot me. Plus alot of elderly guys train when I train lol.

I still use DB's more often for bench presses. I use the smith machine now mainly for rev grip bench presses and squats.

[Ski]

I use the smith machine at the gym and yea it feels like 5 - 10lbs.

UNCfan1!
I'm one of those "old" guys!!
But I can spot!! :D

[Budsbythebeach]

I use the smith machine alot. I would prefer not too, but when u train alone and I don't want to put my trust in guys that I don't know to spot me. Plus alot of elderly guys train when I train lol.

I still use DB's more often for bench presses. I use the smith machine now mainly for rev grip bench presses and squats.

oh yeah forgot, smith is the shiznit for shruggin behind the back.

[UNCfan1]

I use the smith machine at the gym and yea it feels like 5 - 10lbs.

UNCfan1!
I'm one of those "old" guys!!
But I can spot!! :D

LOL I just saw some of the numbers u put up. U can spot me anytime;)

oh yeah forgot, smith is the shiznit for shruggin behind the back.

Yes I forgot about those too. Its perfect for them.

[cavemuscle]

Tom and I use them for militaries and sissy squats only where you want a focused movement. But we also switch around things every 6 weeks to keep shocking the muscle.

Brock

[usf97j4x4]

I'll use them for military press, squat, b-t-b shrugs

Occasionally i'll use them for incline bench if i'm going really heavy.

Also, I use it for SLDLs as I can set the start height of the bar about 6" off the ground. It seems to pound the back and hammies just as much as unassisted SLDLS

The smith bars at our gym are 50 lbs.

[Massivehunt]

Eventhough I'm not a fan of upright rows, I find the smith machine to be very valuable in this area. I also like doing Inlcine bench on them because I can get that squeeze that is hard to obtain doing free weight incline bench. I also like doing bent over rows for the same reason, get a good squeeze for the lats. Also I think doing very heavy squats after your legs are already fatigued is good too. I use the smith machine for many things, inlcluding heavy negatives.

[GotTest]

Be careful with Military press on Smith.
I actually just f***ed up my rotator cuff using the Smith machine for Military presses (MRI today).

Problem was I went too heavy and the Smith restricts range of movement (my form was probably compromised too, not to mention I'm 40 :D ).
Orthopediac surgeon told me to stick with Dumbbells to adjust range of movement when going heavy, instead of straining through one range of movement.
BTW... Behind neck put's a hurtin' on the rotator cuff as well.