Who gets the Smith Machine?

[cbjackson24]

So my gym doesnt even have a squat rack. All they have is a smith machine. Reluctantly, I use it, I'm on the SS program by the way. So ive been increasin my weight by anywhere from 10-15 pounds.

Monday: 2x5x 225, 1x5x 220 (with bad form, not getting parallel)

So, I have a squat rack at my house but with my schedule I dont have time to come home but can go to the rack-less gym. ANYWAY, today I didn't have time to squat. So i go to work for 4hrs (i'm a waiter so im walking around) i get back my legs are achy and im exhausted and i decide im guna finish my workout at 10 o' clock. So I go out there put 225 on and do 3x5 like its nothing!!!!! keep in mind i'm not fresh at all like i am during regular workouts.

So my question is, is Smith machine actually more difficult to do more weight??
The only thing i could come up with is, since ur doning such vertical form it isolates ur quads rather than being a true COMPOUND lift. Doing smith machine squats I feel a DEEP burn in my quads but nowhere else. With regular squats it works ur quads, glutes, hammies, and core and those muscles combined make u able to do more weight.

[HouFIT.com]

Why not just do your workouts at home? If you gave time to go to the gym then go home, you have time to go home and workout.

[cbjackson24]

Why not just do your workouts at home? If you gave time to go to the gym then go home, you have time to go home and workout.

Cuz of my schedule, I get out of school 1 1/2 hour early but then go back to pick up my gf so i have 1 1/2 hrs and the gym is literally a football field away from my school... plus i like the atmosphere of a gym, as oposed to my garage

BUT now that im on SS and workouts are fairly short, I could go home for squats and to the gym to finish the workout.. is that retarded?

[deafbrah]

smith machine is great for your shoulders, traps, calves, and incline chest.

[Jrahe42]

Smith squatters should die! :-P

[cbjackson24]

smith machine is great for your shoulders, traps, calves, and incline chest.

haha i would say only calves..

Would squatting at my house and then continuing my workout 15-20 min later at the gym create any kind of problems? Im not familiar with hormone levels or w.e kind of negative implications take a 20 min break in ur workout can have.

[MikeDunn]

I'm in the same situation in regards to only being able to use the smiths for squats. I don't like the control you lose with standing position etc. I can still feel it in my glutes etc tho, hopefully my gym will get a rack soon.

[human_diode]

Doesn't really answer your question but you could replace the smith with a bench and dumbells, for instance bulgarian squats etc

[Jack_Lupino]

haha i would say only calves..

Would squatting at my house and then continuing my workout 15-20 min later at the gym create any kind of problems? Im not familiar with hormone levels or w.e kind of negative implications take a 20 min break in ur workout can have.

um... why would that create any problems? why don't you just do leg day at home if you're got a rack? i would.

[JBrook]

To answer your question op, IMO, the smith is more difficult for certain exercises, eg: bench, squats. I only use it for traps. Shrugs are a fairly short motion and the weights mostly move in a straight line, whereas bench, squats and other movements are very long rom"s and the weight does not stay straight at all, I believe this makes those lifts harder on a smith. When I was having my back problems I thought I would do squats on the smith, it was very awkward and I couldnt do near the same weight.

[MDPower75]

Doesn't really answer your question but you could replace the smith with a bench and dumbells, for instance bulgarian squats etc

Not for Starting Strength. I like Split Squats and do them as assistance work. But, they aren't good for Starting Strength.

Would squatting at my house and then continuing my workout 15-20 min later at the gym create any kind of problems? Im not familiar with hormone levels or w.e kind of negative implications take a 20 min break in ur workout can have.

That would be fine. I'd actually do my entire workout in the cage at your house. You can bench in the cage by putting the bench inside and setting the rails to the bottom position. But, I can understand why you prefer the gym atmosphere.

um... why would that create any problems? why don't you just do leg day at home if you're got a rack? i would.

Everyday is Leg Day in Starting Strength!

From a standpoint of what is more effective its going to be far better stay away from the smith machine. I've never found the smith machine to be harder, but I've found it to be awkward as hell. But, I haven't done a lot of squatting in a smith machine so you may be right about it being more difficult. I find bench press to be far, far easier in a smith machine. But, It reinforces bad mechanics. I'd stay away from them.

[cbjackson24]

That would be fine. I'd actually do my entire workout in the cage at your house. You can bench in the cage by putting the bench inside and setting the rails to the bottom position. But, I can understand why you prefer the gym atmosphere.

From a standpoint of what is more effective its going to be far better stay away from the smith machine. I've never found the smith machine to be harder, but I've found it to be awkward as hell. But, I haven't done a lot of squatting in a smith machine so you may be right about it being more difficult. I find bench press to be far, far easier in a smith machine. But, It reinforces bad mechanics. I'd stay away from them.

Yeah thanks, I've decided to stay away from the smith machine. Im guna come home to do squats, it would make more sense to do my whole workout here but I just like going to the gym and the atmosphere.

Thanks for all the help man. I must spread reputation aroun before giving it to Chaddukes again. hahah I wont forget tho.

[silverlightning]

Smith squatters should die! :-P

your ignorant.

smith machine squats are a great way to break up your routine from regular squats. I do them around every 6th squat w/o. today i did them wide stance after hacks and regular squats.

[MDPower75]

your ignorant.

smith machine squats are a great way to break up your routine from regular squats. I do them around every 6th squat w/o. today i did them wide stance after hacks and regular squats.

Why would you intentionally do smith machine squats?

[DJAuto]

Bodybuilders enjoy the Smith machine due to its ability to maximize activation while minimizing interference from supporting musculature.

[FlexinMike]

I think the smith machine is great for close grip bench presses,beginners at squats,upright rows, and the occasional heavy presses when you do not have a spotter around.

[noflyingcars]

Bodybuilders enjoy the Smith machine due to its ability to maximize activation while minimizing interference from supporting musculature.

Translation?
Getting a big ass without acquiring real strenght?

[SmithMachineGuy]

The Smith Machine is the best piece of equipment ever. Some people don't like it, but they probably have not yet achieved the required levels of awesomeness to understand the Smith Machine. In fact, you can work out your entire body without ever leaving the Smith Machine.

Pull ups for the back by placing the bar up high.
Chin ups for the biceps.
Bench Presses for the Chest.
Shoulder presses.
Shrugs for the traps.
Leg Presses for the legs.
Dead Lifts.
Squats for the legs.
Calf raises.
Then set the bench on a decline and do some abs.

[Dr Clay]

The only thing i could come up with is, since ur doning such vertical form it isolates ur quads rather than being a true COMPOUND lift. Doing smith machine squats I feel a DEEP burn in my quads but nowhere else. With regular squats it works ur quads, glutes, hammies, and core and those muscles combined make u able to do more weight.

You've gotten it figured out, my man.

As for comparing the weight on a Smith machine vs a BB, you really can't because 1) the starting weight and couter weight on each is different 2) they are really just different exercises - thus it's a bit like comparing apples and oranges.

All the best,

[JBrook]

The Smith Machine is the best piece of equipment ever. Some people don't like it, but they probably have not yet achieved the required levels of awesomeness to understand the Smith Machine. In fact, you can work out your entire body without ever leaving the Smith Machine.

Pull ups for the back by placing the bar up high.
Chin ups for the biceps.
Bench Presses for the Chest.
Shoulder presses.
Shrugs for the traps.
Leg Presses for the legs.
Dead Lifts.
Squats for the legs.
Calf raises.
Then set the bench on a decline and do some abs.

Not sure if srs, if so youre the people I hate at my gym that will take the smith for 1hr+ doing a full body workout. My gym only has 2 smiths one of which is a pos, the other one is in high demand and people get on it and wont get off.

[fmrmarineinbiz]

Why would you intentionally do smith machine squats?

To isolate your quads more I know a guy who ONLY does smith squats, and leg presses and has bigger legs than most who squat 'traditionally'. Barbell back squats are not the 'end all be all' leg developer, in fact they're quite lacking because there's not a direct focus on the quads. Barbell hack squats are another great direct quad isolator.

[MDPower75]

The Smith Machine is the best piece of equipment ever. In fact, you can work out your entire body without ever leaving the Smith Machine.

Dead Lifts.

Deadlifts on a smith machine? Really? The vertical motion would kill my back!

I'd never recommend that!

[MDPower75]

Barbell back squats are not the 'end all be all' leg developer, in fact they're quite lacking because there's not a direct focus on the quads.

No, I agree with you there. Squats are great whole body lifts, but they aren't able to overload the quads as much as some other exercises are. I understand that. I just wasn't aware that the smith machine put more emphasis on the quads. It's so awkward for me that I'd probably never try it. I'll stick to some other lifts for putting more emphasis on the quads.

[DJAuto]

Translation?
Getting a big ass without acquiring real strenght?

Absolutely not.

Your translation skills need significant work.

[noflyingcars]

Absolutely not.

Your translation skills need significant work.

Oh well, here people are boasting the smith machine because it can work out the quads only. Having huge quads and the rest of the leg/glutes lagging behind is a dangerous muscle imbalance, imho.

[gspsilva]

i find the smith machine is great for shoulders, i have gotten great gains from the smith machine shoulder press

[MikeD4386]

So, I have a squat rack at my house but with my schedule I dont have time to come home but can go to the rack-less gym. ANYWAY, today I didn't have time to squat. So i go to work for 4hrs (i'm a waiter so im walking around) i get back my legs are achy and im exhausted and i decide im guna finish my workout at 10 o' clock. So I go out there put 225 on and do 3x5 like its nothing!!!!! keep in mind i'm not fresh at all like i am during regular workouts.

This whole piece of information is useless

[SmithMachineGuy]

Not sure if srs, if so youre the people I hate at my gym that will take the smith for 1hr+ doing a full body workout. My gym only has 2 smiths one of which is a pos, the other one is in high demand and people get on it and wont get off.

Don't worry. My Smith Machine is at my house!
Yeah, monopolizing one piece of equipment at the gym is inconsiderate.

[BigRick87]

Sometimes I feel smith machines can be harder to squat on because it changes your body's natural line of movement off and you can not create the proper leverage and body mechanics that were intended in a natural range of motion.



I dont understand why so many people diss smith machines and other machines for any matter of fact. Machines can be a great tool in overloading a specific muscle with more weight. I make some of my greatest strength gains on barbell movements when roughly half of my workout exercises are machines. Why, because
If your body already has the "stability" it needs to lift heavier weights than you are currently capable of, then why not use machines to overload your specific muscle that needs more strengthening so you can lift as much weight as your stabilizing muscles allow in the following weeks.

[J_Bo]

haha i would say only calves..

Would squatting at my house and then continuing my workout 15-20 min later at the gym create any kind of problems? Im not familiar with hormone levels or w.e kind of negative implications take a 20 min break in ur workout can have.

I've done workouts where I've squatted as a separate entity. Do your squat workout in the morning on it's own, then hit the rest of the stuff later in the day. I'm not sure what SS is, though, and how that would fit into that program.