Whats more effective... Smith Machine or Leverage Bench Press?

[MikeHillhouse]

I have limited availability to equipment and want to maximize my time on chest while in the gym. What is more effective on bench press, Leverage or Smith Machine? Thanks all.

[HeavyLifts92]

If no freeweights just do pushups with a back pack.

[NotSoFitGuy]

If no freeweights just do pushups with a back pack.

Why? WHY?! I don't understand this 'anything is better than machines' mentality. Your abs will be a limiting factor when doing weighted pushups and getting the weights in place is a hassle. Plus you'll be hyperextending your wrist a lot so you'll probably get wrist pain. There's no advantage to weighted pushups over machine bench press, both have you push in a straight line, both have absence of stabilizing (when it comes to your chest and arms).

Use the leverage bench press. It'll be easier/safer to train to failure or close to failure since there wont be a bar to crush you in case you fail at the bottom of a rep. Plus its plane of motion isn't as fixed a smith machine, making it easier on the shoulders.

[Overload]

Out of the 2, I'd go with leverage. I had a leverage bench press machine for a while and my neighbor has a smith machine so got to compare both and the leverage feels more natural and less restricting compared to the smith.

[Get-n-fit]

Leverage. I enjoy work on leverage machine. Ditto what overload said, they are a little more natural than a smith machine. You just have to keep in mind the amount of weight on the bars is not correct bc of the leverage, however you will definitely get a great workout from it.

[ironwill2008]

I have limited availability to equipment and want to maximize my time on chest while in the gym. What is more effective on bench press, Leverage or Smith Machine? Thanks all.

Try each, and then go with whichever you can feel working better in your pecs.

During one workout, pick one of the two machines, and perform 10 sets of 10 reps each, with heavy enough weight that you can just get all your reps. Do nothing else for chest that day, and then 24-48 hours later, note where any soreness is located.

on your next scheduled chest workout, use the same procedure with the other machine. After noting soreness, you'll have a clear picture of which (if either one) works better for you.

[mtownballer20]

Free weights over everything.

[HeavyLifts92]

Why? WHY?! I don't understand this 'anything is better than machines' mentality. Your abs will be a limiting factor when doing weighted pushups and getting the weights in place is a hassle. Plus you'll be hyperextending your wrist a lot so you'll probably get wrist pain. There's no advantage to weighted pushups over machine bench press, both have you push in a straight line, both have absence of stabilizing (when it comes to your chest and arms).

Use the leverage bench press. It'll be easier/safer to train to failure or close to failure since there wont be a bar to crush you in case you fail at the bottom of a rep. Plus its plane of motion isn't as fixed a smith machine, making it easier on the shoulders.

I just said that because i like doing weighted pushups over both of em.. Why get mad?

[NotSoFitGuy]

I just said that because i like doing weighted pushups over both of em.. Why get mad?

Oh because the question at hand is which is most effective, and not which is most preferred. I assumed you were one of those guys that irrationally places all other exercises over machine exercises, when clearly machines have their place.

[PerthShane]

You're at a gym and there's no bench press or dumbells? Cancel your membership immediately.

[ironwill2008]

If no freeweights just do pushups with a back pack.

Free weights over everything.

You're at a gym and there's no bench press or dumbells? Cancel your membership immediately.

OP isn't asking if he should use free weights instead, or join another gym.


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