Opinion on the Smith Machine

[silver_shadow]

You must spread some Karma around before giving it to BiggT again.

Great posts, guys.

I was going to say I think the Smith is useful to do calf raises, but then I realized, I don't even use it for that. I'm sorry, but people who squat in the Smith are just on a different planet.

FYI Smith users who bench/squat/row/shrug/press in the Smith, the bar only weighs 15lbs. Isn't it amazing that you can lift the bar with a single finger?

there are some smiths where it is suspended or something... and the bar is actually weightless, rather the load of the weight of the bar is transfered somewhere else so it appears weightless.

anyway, IMO the smith is a really good machine











































i've seen short guys put it up real high and do chins. once i saw a guy hang upside down with his knees folded over the bar and he was doing crunches!

 

[al420]

Ok but tell me why and not just state your opinion.
I am curious!!!
You say crap, some say great!
I personally use it to squat (sometimes) cause I have a hard time sqatting (Well cept when I am drinking in a filthy bar and need to squat to pee), but I have done this for 8 yrs and have had no harmfull effects.

You were told why already - stabilizers - do you need more than that? Do you want to have a bigger right leg that left? If semetry is important that free weights are the only way to go.

 

[assassin]

The Smith Machine is a worthless peice of crap.

agree

 

[assassin]

yeah i agree smith machine is a piece of crap but what about shoulders presses on the smith ????

 

[suckamc44]

All good insight...thanks for your comments. I am changing my mind on the Smith now.
And yes please explain about not training triceps?! You never train them?

I find it so interesting how everyone trains different. I guess there is no one perfect way for one person.

I don't think he was saying that he didn't train triceps. He said that he prefered to do close-grip pressing and dips because those gave more bang for the buck than a tricep pressdown.

 

[curgeo]

The worst piece of equipment to have ever been in the gym.

 

[1392477]

I would have to disagree with most posts on here, like certain machines the Smith Machine has it's place in certain workouts.

Personally, I train alone most of the time and it allows me to do benches and shoulder presses closer to my max than I would try with free weights and no spotter. Not everybody has the luxury of training parters and for this, the Smith can be a useful piece of equipment.

That being said, free weights are always my first choice.

 

[s8nlilhlpr]

yeah i agree smith machine is a piece of crap but what about shoulders presses on the smith ????

Uhm, its just as useless. Just say NO to the smith.

 

[Jim Ouini]

I see the smitty being used for all kinds of crazy things - squats with feet on a bosu ball, sumo shrugs, feet 3ft forward squatting. I was asked to spot some guy doing floor presses with 225 once.

This has to be the most versatile piece of equipment in the gym

 

[ErikZ]

I must admit that guys on this board have opened up my eyes to the huge compound lifts, such as the squat, the benchpress, the row and the military press. Believe it or not, my physique has changed dramatically, my strength has increased and I do feel much better once I leave the gym.

They are a good bunch these EF ppl