Smith Machine Squats

[dm2mcintyre]

Hi Guys, I am at a gym that doesn't have a squat rack. I use Rippetoe's program to work out so I am obviously facing a dilemma. Can I use the smith machine? I've heard its not a great exercise but at the moment there is no alternative. Thanks in advance for any help.

[ironwill2008]

In.

[chrisboudreaux]

In.

lulz

[Justin Buchana]

Something is better than nothing.... But seriously ask your self what other gyms and options are around and how bad you want to be the best you can be.

Look into switching gyms or perhaps even seeing if your local collage/hs leaves there weight rooms open to the public for certain hours.

[matjusm]

Hi Guys, I am at a gym that doesn't have a squat rack. I use Rippetoe's program to work out so I am obviously facing a dilemma. Can I use the smith machine? I've heard its not a great exercise but at the moment there is no alternative. Thanks in advance for any help.

Your "gym" doesn't have a squat rack? I'm sorry, but you're not in a gym and unless you live in the Australian outback or are stationed on an Antarctic research outpost, there should be more gyms available to you in your area. Look around.

[VoxExMachina]

Hi Guys, I am at a gym that doesn't have a squat rack. I use Rippetoe's program to work out so I am obviously facing a dilemma. Can I use the smith machine?

Probably.




Maybe.




No.







^ One of those is the right answer.

[SuicideGripMe]

Hmm, can you make a pizza without sauce? Yes, but it wouldnt be very good. Can you substitute ketchup for tomatoe sauce? Yes, but it wouldnt be as good.

Seriously do a routine that doesent revolve around the freeweight squat if you cant freeweight squat.

[Anthony21]

Hmm, can you make a pizza without sauce? Yes, but it wouldnt be very good. Can you substitute ketchup for tomatoe sauce? Yes, but it wouldnt be as good.

Seriously do a routine that doesent revolve around the freeweight squat if you cant freeweight squat.

I beg to differ with the first point.. I have had pizza with no marinara sauce and it taste damn good.

[liftingson]

smith squats are no way equal to regular back squats...BUT, if thats all you have use it.

[dm2mcintyre]

Thanks for the serious reply's. I am a poor university student (aren't we all) who cant afford to get a gym membership at the moment. I use the gym at college and its all I've got. Its really disappointing as squats were a 3x a week thing for me before hand. Sounds like I will just have to make do with the smith machine or possibly employ some lunges? Deadlifts and calf raises hit my hams, gluteals and calves but my quadriceps are obviously getting left out if I don't do SOMETHING!

This is a major dilemma as I am training in part for road cycling and of course to gain muscle mass before I cut down and do some serious cardio and sprint work.

[TheKoiCarp]

Thanks for the serious reply's. I am a poor university student (aren't we all) who cant afford to get a gym membership at the moment. I use the gym at college and its all I've got. Its really disappointing as squats were a 3x a week thing for me before hand. Sounds like I will just have to make do with the smith machine or possibly employ some lunges? Deadlifts and calf raises hit my hams, gluteals and calves but my quadriceps are obviously getting left out if I don't do SOMETHING!

This is a major dilemma as I am training in part for road cycling and of course to gain muscle mass before I cut down and do some serious cardio and sprint work.

If lack of money is a problem personally I would save money for correct nutrition.

Also if you feel only your quads are missing out why not just include front squats into your routine. With the lighter weight you can just clean it into the starting position and dump the weight when done. Front squats also hit your quads harder than regular squats iirc

Also if you are training for competitive cycling do you really want massive leg mass? Cyclists always seem skinny as hell

[dm2mcintyre]

I am 81kg's... was 63 way back in the day. Put on a lot of mass after 18 months off and most of it is muscle. Basically I can only target the flatter faster events in which case the extra strength may help. I will attempt front squats but just for clarification are lunges okay and are smith machine squats really that bad? Thanks again.

[JasonDB]

Hmm, can you make a pizza without sauce? Yes, but it wouldnt be very good. Can you substitute ketchup for tomatoe sauce? Yes, but it wouldnt be as good.

Seriously do a routine that doesent revolve around the freeweight squat if you cant freeweight squat.

In.

I made a pizza without tomato sauce the other day. I mixed my cheese with Alfredo sauce and topped it with diced chicken breast, minced garlic and spinach. You jelly?

[mistabigstuff19]

You need to find a new gym.

[Zero_Degreez]

Hi Guys, I am at a gym that doesn't have a squat rack. I use Rippetoe's program to work out so I am obviously facing a dilemma. Can I use the smith machine? I've heard its not a great exercise but at the moment there is no alternative. Thanks in advance for any help.

Smith machine squats don't compare to barbell back squats. I wouldn't use a Smith machine at all.

How about doing some single-leg work with dumbbells? For example, Bulgarian split squats or lunges. The lunge is a fantastic full body exercise.

[ThickAsABrick]

I have had pizza with no marinara sauce

That's not really pizza.

[im2manly]

who cares.

I enjoy the way you have formatted your username.

[JasonDB]

That's not really pizza.

I think Cici's pretty well established that a pizza can still be a pizza with alfredo sauce instead of maranira sauce. This is one of the finer points we might need to hash out however for the sake of this thread. It is critical to the debate.

[ThickAsABrick]

I think Cici's pretty well established that a pizza can still be a pizza with alfredo sauce instead of maranira sauce. This is one of the finer points we might need to hash out however for the sake of this thread. It is critical to the debate.

Anyone referring to whatever crap Cici's calls pizza clearly doesn't belong in a debate about good pizza.

Maybe that's the best you can do in Tejas though. How unfortunate.

[JasonDB]

Anyone referring to whatever crap Cici's calls pizza clearly doesn't belong in a debate about good pizza.

Maybe that's the best you can do in Tejas though. How unfortunate.

Having been to Chicago, and having New York pizza once... I can say Tejas is coming up short on the pizza. Cici's is our best frame of reference in Texas culture sadly.

[Birddog6424]

You guys are really straying far afield in this thread with all your pizza talk.

This is a serious thread for serious people. The Smith machine squat is in serious need of a debate. This subject never comes up on the board and I think it is in serious need of our full attention. I'm sure using the "search" feature would not have uncovered this exact same serious subject asked a thousand times in, oh, say the last........................week. So let's stay on topic.

Seriously........

[JasonDB]

You guys are really straying far afield in this thread with all your pizza talk.

This is a serious thread for serious people. The Smith machine squat is in serious need of a debate. This subject never comes up on the board and I think it is in serious need of our full attention. I'm sure using the "search" feature would not have uncovered this exact same serious subject asked a thousand times in, oh, say the last........................week. So let's stay on topic.

Seriously........

Fine get in the debate... can a pizza be a pizza without a tomato based sauce? Explain your reasons why or why not.

[Birddog6424]

Fine get in the debate... can a pizza be a pizza without a tomato based sauce? Explain your reasons why or why not.

I'm Irish. We cook pizza in bacon grease and put sliced potatoes on top. And we'll call it pizza if we want to. Then we wash it down at the local pub.

Why? Because we're Irish, and we do whatever the f*ck we want

[JasonDB]

I'm Irish. We cook pizza in bacon grease and put sliced potatoes on top. And we'll call it pizza if we want to. Then we wash it down at the local pub.

Why? Because we're Irish, and we do whatever the f*ck we want

I'm Bohemian and I swear that sounds like an authentic Bohemian recipie. You fry the bread in bacon grease first right? Other than I am sure a Czech beer is used and not an Irish beer.

[Birddog6424]

I'm Bohemian and I swear that sounds like an authentic Bohemian recipie. You fry the bread in bacon grease first right? Other than I am sure a Czech beer is used and not an Irish beer.

Anything involving bacon grease and beer is bound to be good

[Sir_Malak]

Can you grow great quads without normal barbell squats? Yes (take this with a pinch of salt because even though I believe its possible it is argued by many that it is not the ideal method thus you will honestly just have to try it for yourself..the mirror will not lie.)

Can you become great at doing barbell squats without doing barbell squats? No
Can you powerlift in a smith machine? yes but only if there was a smith machine event...(lol)


Honestly I do both and it really just depends on the goals. If your trying for power then the smith machine's controlled motion is very unnatural thus any "real carry over" function will be low. If that makes any sense.

[Dan62]

This thread is now about pizza

[Birddog6424]

This thread is now about pizza

Which is a vast improvement over yet another "squatting in the Smith rack" thread......

[THE_TRUTH86]

u dont necessarily need a squat rack to squat... Go lighter on the weight and do squats or see if you can get someone to spot you.

I hate those excuses about "No squat racks" if anything most of them are always being used as Curl Racks... GRR lol

But OP really, Smith Squats will work as an alternative, but i do suggest option A before b

[Beachman]

Bread, sauce and cheese = pizza, but not necessarily good pizza.

+If all you have to squat with is a smith, then put your feet a little more forward and use it like a hack squat. You could also clean a bar and front squat like someone else mentioned.