Smith Bench Press - I know its bad ...

[AndsX]

My goal is to build mass so i try to hit failure in every set. Most of the days i don't have a spotter so i feel confident hitting it on a Smith machine. I also feel my pecs are worked more on a smith.

So is it ok if you really hit failure on smith machine for builidng mass?

 

[string_bean00]

just use dumbbells instead to go to failure

 

[Cynical Simian]

Care to explain why always training to failure is necessary for building mass?

 

[s8nlilhlpr]

My goal is to build mass so i try to hit failure in every set. Most of the days i don't have a spotter so i feel confident hitting it on a Smith machine. I also feel my pecs are worked more on a smith.

So is it ok if you really hit failure on smith machine for builidng mass?

If you "know its bad" then why are you asking? Why not just bench in the power cage, with spotter bars?

 

[perp69]

I try that power cage if you have one. That is all I use unless someone else is using it. But if that is all you got that is all you got. Lots of guys use it without any problems. I personally don't recommend using the Smith. Smith is only slightly better than nothing at all.

Perp

 

[Guinness5.0]

I would advise reading up on failure -- there's absolutely no need to go to failure with much regularity. It's most likely counterproductive to do so. You'd be better off using a weight that you know you'll get with minimal struggle on free bench, then gradually adding 5 pounds per week until it gets tough. Then grab a spotter when you aren't 100% sure you'll get it and tell him not to touch the bar unless you yell 'spot'. You will add some serious pounds to your bench this way, and will see some nice gains as long as your eating is adequate to allow for growth

Avoid the smith if at all possible. Personally I would do weighted dips and standing overhead presses if you absolutely do not want to bench without the smith.

 

[AndsX]

Care to explain why always training to failure is necessary for building mass?

I was adviced to do failure to gain mass by my trainer.

 

[AndsX]

I would advise reading up on failure -- there's absolutely no need to go to failure with much regularity. It's most likely counterproductive to do so. You'd be better off using a weight that you know you'll get with minimal struggle on free bench, then gradually adding 5 pounds per week until it gets tough. Then grab a spotter when you aren't 100% sure you'll get it and tell him not to touch the bar unless you yell 'spot'. You will add some serious pounds to your bench this way, and will see some nice gains as long as your eating is adequate to allow for growth

Avoid the smith if at all possible. Personally I would do weighted dips and standing overhead presses if you absolutely do not want to bench without the smith.

Intially i was able to add 5 pounds a week. Now its getting really difficult to do this.

 

[Cynical Simian]

I was adviced to do failure to gain mass by my trainer.

Read up on training to failure like G5.0 suggested (or just dig up ZGzaZ's old 5x5 log where he gained ~45 pounds without ever intentionally training to failure) and fire your trainer.

 

[BiggT]

Your trainer is an idiot.

Add weight to big lifts over time and you'll grow....... so long as you don't eat like a girl (which, I realized is the main problem for lots of guys on here).

The easiest way to foster long-term progress and NOT stall out is to intentionally leave a rep or two in the tank so you can do more weight the next week and so on and so forth.

What are your lifts? Height/Weight? I am gonna go out on a limb and ASSume from the nature of your question and the trainer's advice you relied upon that you're pretty new to this and should be able to just slap on 5lbs every week. You said you stalled doing that, but I'll say you fucked it up and used too much weight and started failing and missing reps too soon and/or turned lifting into a tag team sport using entirely too much weight with the trainer pulling it off of you telling you "it's all you, these are the growth reps!!!"...... Read up on Madcow's website in the training sticky posted at the top of this board on how to train to actually make progress.

Also.....this is from a purely weightlifting perspective, The Smith Machine is a worthless pile of garbage. I know, I know, lots of big guys use it, and all that.....but it really has no place in a gym.