smith machine weakness

[makaya325]

After I did chest on smith machine today, i went to incline dumbbells, and even with 60's, which is easy for me, it felt weird, it felt like they were moving side to side. It was hard and very discouraging to see that. I am trying to develop my upper pecs, the smith machine worked until i found out it weakens ur strength overrall, and dumbbells didnt work bc getting them up took alot out of my shoulders.

I want to do incline bench press with barbells, but need to know a few things

1. How many sets of incline barbells should i do in one workout

2. How many sets of flies should i combine it with

3. Should i just skip the smith machine for now on?

[lustenbroger13]

Smith Machine doesn't train stabilizer muscles, just pressing strength. Just do incline dumbbell benching if you wanna work your upper pecs

[xlDeMoNiClx]

Stay away from Smith Machines. They balance the weight for you but they lock your body into awkward positions that can mess you up. I can't stand them.

[DedicateD93]

Stay away from Smith Machines. They balance the weight for you but they lock your body into awkward positions that can mess you up. I can't stand them.

I wouldn't stay away from them. They are a tool, like other machines, obviously free weights are better, but the more tools you effectively use in your arsenal the better.

[xlDeMoNiClx]

I wouldn't stay away from them. They are a tool, like other machines, obviously free weights are better, but the more tools you effectively use in your arsenal the better.

That's just my view of them. If someone else wants to use them, more power to them.

[makaya325]

I heard stories from guys at the gym who said when they did smith machine bench press for months, there chest developed, but their strength weakened on a regular barbell press.

I used to do dumbells on incline until i was sick of the difficulty of just getting them up.

[makaya325]

I think ill just go 5-7 sets of incline barbell, 3-4 sets of incline dumbell with pushups in between each set, then do chest flies, and guillotine presses to finish off

[waffles95]

Why are you doing 7 sets of incline barbell???

[makaya325]

because i want to boost my bench

[autrefois]

I can say I hope, it will be worth, what I give up, oh oh,
If I could stand up mean for the things that I believe

[waffles95]

because i want to boost my bench

Sorry but 7 sets on the incline isn't going to boost ****. I'd expect someone who claims to be able to DL 405 for 5 reps would know the basics of hypertrophy...

[BradCathie]

I wouldn't stay away from them. They are a tool, like other machines, obviously free weights are better, but the more tools you effectively use in your arsenal the better.

What could you possibly utilise with a smith machine? Even shrugs require a small ROM that smith machines can't replicate because they move in a straight line.

Smith machines are less a tool and more a safety thing for gyms to incorporate so there are less short term injuries. People use it to boost their ego and that's about it.

Maybe standing calf raises but you can just do that with dumbbells anyway.