Can someone explain this?

[Elana]

hey girls,

Today at the gym, I wanted to change it up so instead of shoulder pressing on the smith, I went and did free weights. However, when I did, I realized I ended up shoulder pressing 10 more lbs than on the smith!?? I just don't get it? I thought you could lift more on smith b/c with free weights you have to use other muscles to control the weight?

Am I wrong?

Which is do you think is better?

thanks in advance!

Happy lifting!

~Elana

 

[scorpiogirl]

Do you know what the Smith bar weighs? Some weigh nothing, mine at home weighs 45 lbs. Could be part of it.

 

[Sassy69]

Also I find there's sometimes some drag introduced on the smith because you are constrained to the track that the bar runs on. A free weight motion gives you more room to determine maybe where your more explosive or stronger area is.