Smith Machine good for anything?

[Tarheel]

My new gym has one. I'm leary of it, but willing to give it a try if its good for anything.

As pointed out in another thread, drag curls might be a good change of pace from straight bar curls.

Maybe some seated militaries?

 

[PolishHammer1977]

The smith machine is an excellent tool. IMHO it is best used to teach beginner form and/or rehabbing from an injury.

I am sure there are practical uses but I am only concerned with what makes ME grow.

 

[RusPA81]

The smith machine is an excellent tool. IMHO it is best used to teach beginner form and/or rehabbing from an injury.

I am sure there are practical uses but I am only concerned with what makes ME grow.

I personally think it would be more useful for a beginner to learn how lift with free weights while using really light weights, then to learn on a smith press and then have to relearn with free weights. Just my opinion.

 

[PolishHammer1977]

I personally think it would be more useful for a beginner to learn how lift with free weights while using really light weights, then to learn on a smith press and then have to relearn with free weights. Just my opinion.

Are you a Personal Trainer brutha?

 

[RusPA81]

Are you a Personal Trainer brutha?

No, I am not. Thats why I said it was my opinion. Its something that I noticed from my own and friends personal experiences.

 

[RusPA81]

I see your point too, and I believe that does depend on the trainie too. Some people have a better ability to grasp form then others. It also depends on a personal training goals and physical ability.

 

[PolishHammer1977]

Form is everything in my eyes. "Lets get it right the first time". That is my stance. I think the SMITH machine provides that opportunity while promoting the safest environment possible. You can teach and learn PERFECT form utilizing it.

When the form is correct than we move to free weights and RELEARN form.

Training is all about relearning and applying new ideas to old ones. This is how I train people. They can alway leave I will only teach the correct form in order for anything to progress.

 

[RusPA81]

ok.

Imagine this situation. A person wants you to train them but has no prior involvment in athletics, has serious limitations (knee surgeries) is uncoordinated, and has never lifted a weight.

This is extreme but this is just a minor example. you and your friends may not be fitting into this category of client. I hope this opens your perspective a little.

I just realized this and wrote about that up top.

 

[PolishHammer1977]

No, I am not. Thats why I said it was my opinion. Its something that I noticec from my own and friends personal experiences.

ok.

Imagine this situation. A person wants you to train them but has no prior involvment in athletics, has serious limitations (knee surgeries) is uncoordinated, and has never lifted a weight.

This is extreme but this is just a minor example. you and your friends may not be fitting into this category of client. I hope this opens your perspective a little.

 

[RusPA81]

You are exactly right and what you jsut learned will carry through to the rest of your training life.

you will see that the average American is fat, lazy and out of shape. We can't start at the phase WE started at. We ahve to take a step backward to take a step foreward.

Very true. May orignal statement was not based at average fat, lazy American, but more towards someone with some fitness back ground. In the case you are describing I absolutely agree with you. One cannot go from nothing to advanced movements. The must first get the basic feel for how the muscles move and respond.