Smith Machine Squats

[Cobin]

I do my squats on a smith machine, the bar is only about 10-15lbs so I have to estimate how much weight I am doing. But I feel if I use a barbell I will fall over, will doing it on a smith machine mess me up? I am gonna give it a try next time with a barbell and see if I fall over.


Smith machine squat
http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/SMSquat.html

 

[the People's Champ]

better to use the bar, that way you work out your stabilizers, which help keep your balance. doing it with the smith, you are going in a controlled range of motion, and are not working your muscles as hard as if you were squatting with the bar. it takes time to get used to the exercise.

 

[Lumberg]

You (in general) should never use a Smith machine if it is possible to do the same exercise with free weights at your gym.

JC

 

[The Shadow]

stretch your hips and hams b-4 squatting...use a small plate uner heels if absolutely necessary

 

[JDarty6173]

Just get in the rack and get under the bar... If ya fall, oh well..Ya end up dumping it onto the safety pins and learn what not to do next time.......

 

[JOKER47]

Just get in the rack and get under the bar... If ya fall, oh well..Ya end up dumping it onto the safety pins and learn what not to do next time.......

That's the best advice I have heard in a long time.

Joker

 

[Hannibal]

Smith Machine Squats are EVIL

 

[gettinlarger]

That's the best advice I have heard in a long time.

Joker

True dat.

 

[supersizeme]

lance armstrong does not win the tour de france every year by racing a bike with training wheels still on it.

forget the smith machine exists. when you walk into your gym on leg day, you should tell yourself, "there is no smith machine." like jdarty said, you should have no fear if you've got a power rack that you can do the movement in. you can place the safety pins at the very bottom of your descent and never have to worry about getting trapped under the bar. once you are comfortable with doing them, you can eventually lose the power rack and use the squat rack.

 

[Hannibal]

lance armstrong does not win the tour de france every year by racing a bike with training wheels still on it.

As much as I love to give you hell....you cannot argue with a statement like that.

Bravo

 

[JDarty6173]

Actually the worst squatting accident I've been around was at my gym about 3 years back.. Ya know that when people squat in the smith machine, most tend to place their feet way out in front of them (to counteract the unnatural movement of the machine I suppose).. Anyhow, the floors at my gym are carpeted with coarse rubber flooring in areas like the Power rack for much better footing.. But there is no such flooring around the smith machine... Well it was a rainy day, so when this 6ft5" 35ish age feller comes in to squat on the smith his shoes are naturally wet.. Not a problem on the rubber matting as it gives even better grip when wet... So he of couse set his feet "WAY" out in front of his body so that his torso remains completly verticle during his squats... His warm-ups were unneventful.. Then he puts 315 (or its smith machine equivalent on the bar) and sets up as in his previous sets, stretched out stance and safety catches on the floor.... Well when your feet are that far in front of you there is no way to recover if something goes wrong... And boy did it ever go wrong... He came down with his first couple reps ok, ok for a half squat anyway... But on about the third he actually comes down to parallel.. It was at this point his feet literally flew out in front of him causing him to violently kick and shatter the wall mirror in front of him while he crashed to the floor with 315 pounds on his neck... Well I would love to say that he wasn't injured, but sadly enough he was.. He suffered I believe 3 crushed vertebrae where the bar landed on his neck, and herniated several in his lower back.... And the moral of the story is.......................

"DON"T SQUAT IN THE SMITH MACHINE" it just ain't safe

 

[SofaGeorge]

The Smith Machine squats are a great leg exercise!

I also like crack as a morning breakfast fuel.

I find cigarettes are a great diet aid.

I reuse condoms to save money.

Oh, and I always recommend listening to trainers at gyms. They really know their stuff.

 

[louden_swain]

Forget the smith machine. . . head over to the cage and load up the olympic bar with some plates. This will build your legs, along with strength, and balance. The smith machine is not natural and will not build functional strength. Plus, the smith machine is hard on your knee joints, especially if you put for feet out in front of you. Dump it man. . . dump it!