rack pulls on smith...

[BlitzKrag]

What do you guys think? Does it matter? I do shrugs on the smith I figured I could just drop the safeties and go ahead with the racks pulls while im at it.

Anyway im looking to add racks pulls to, hopefully, thicken up my upper back. I almost disappear when I turn sideways.

Also, any other recommendations for upper back thickness?

[Dr Clay]

Although Dexter Jackson is a fan of these, I've never really liked them. But I could see that they do have some merit.

However, I would NOT drop regular rack deadlifts permanently; just use smith deads as an periodic substitute.

A better use for the smith machine is overhand rows pulling to just below nipple level. This will help thicken up your upper back quite well!

Best,

[SmithMachineGuy]

Can't go wrong with the Smith Machine.

[cncman]

Although Dexter Jackson is a fan of these, I've never really liked them. But I could see that they do have some merit.

However, I would NOT drop regular rack deadlifts permanently; just use smith deads as an periodic substitute.

A better use for the smith machine is overhand rows pulling to just below nipple level. This will help thicken up your upper back quite well!

Best,

Jay cutler is also a fan of them

[Sir_Malak]

I can go heavier in a smith machine...but because I like to rack pull with the motion similar to a deadlift I prefer the bb.

[SuicideGripMe]

First... why? You are really taking a great movement and making it less productive. Just do real rack pulls. And as for upper back thickness, various types of rows, good diet, and consistently adding weight to the bar and scale. Nothing fancy and no secrets.

[Jack_Lupino]

i've just recently started doing these due to the fact that my workplace only has a smith (no other rack of any kind or even a single barbell) and i've gotta say it beats the hell out of the stupid hyper-extension machine.

i still plan on visiting my regular gym occasionally to get the real deal... just figure it's better making do than doing nothing on days where i don't have the time or energy to drive there.

and yeah i've read all the threads about how bad it is to do deadlifts or anything else for that matter on a smith.

the way i see it, having knowledge/experience of how the actual exercise feels with a barbell, allows me to safely use this machine.

so for now, rack pulls, overhead presses to the chin and bench not completely to the chest, squat to parallel not a2g (when heavier) back, shoulders, knees etc. feel fine.

as for the bent rows with it, not sure i like that one...

we've also got dumbbells so i stick with good old 1-arms.

[BlitzKrag]

Hmm thanks for the input guys. I tried them last night on the smith. Its not really a big help for me. Basically I can shrug way more than I am comfortable with pulling. I've never really felt comfortable doing rack pulls.. it always feels like its harder than it should be to get the weight moving. So I have to remove the weight and adjust the safeties anyway. Back to the rack.