Smith machine sucks!!!

[CollegeKid]

just started working out at my school weight room again. of course, they didn't have a power rack, just lame smith machines (i've been doing power rack squats back at home, and been loving them). so i go to do squats on the smith machine.... MAN IT IS LAME! it felt so akward and useless, i don't think i'm ever going to do that again. so i guess i'm just going to have to rely on leg press and deadlifts. smith machines suck!

 

[louden_swain]

I hate smith machine squats!! I always use the cage. I think the smith machine provides a non natural movement for squatting.

 

[b fold the truth]

I agree...

B True

 

[vinylgroover]

I'll sound boring and agree again

 

[spatts]

Amen.

 

[gettinlarger]

Rock on.

 

[Thaibox]

"________ machine sucks!!!

You can pretty much write anything here

 

[Lord_Suston]

Smith machines fucking blow, the ony good use I have found for them is front squats and that is still up for debate....

 

[Haz]

I absolutely hate the machine. Squats feel terrible on that thing; I don't understand how people can handle it. I can do much more weight, more comfortably with free squats.

Its also terrible for benching, pressing and shrugs. I feel I'm fighting the machine more then the actual weight when I use it. Free weights feel much more natural.

 

[Greek Freak]

I absolutely hate the machine. Squats feel terrible on that thing; I don't understand how people can handle it. I can do much more weight, more comfortably with free squats.

Its also terrible for benching, pressing and shrugs. I feel I'm fighting the machine more then the actual weight when I use it. Free weights feel much more natural.

Yea, I even used one that had a different plane to make it more natural and the thing still sucked. I always feel like I am gonna break my wrists trying to rack weight on those things.

 

[CytoMel]

Smith machines suck!

Make a dragging sled and work hard on that. Best way to get big legs (calves, hams, quads, glutes,lower back) FAST!

 

[rippedtrojan]

try barbell hack squats since you don't have a power rack.

 

[waldo]

I hate the Smith Machine

 

[JOKER47]

The only thing I have found my smith machine good for is standing calf raises. That, and it has a good pulley setup for various other things. (Seated rows, cable cross-overs, etc...)



.02,
Joker

 

[Vortexx]

Yeah they suck and they are expensive as well! Gym owners should realize by now thay you could buy 2 pieces of better equipment for the price of 1 smith machine or a whole load of free weight... But no, They buy it, because they feel it is safer for the beginning trainee, because he or she can always bail out and rack the weight quickly. However for a more advanced person using REAL weight the smith just put too much shearing forces on the knees etc and the plane of motion for most other exercises is pretty unnatural / often useless as well.

 

[Lost Viking]

Try to move your feet forward as much as possible and lean back against the bar. This makes the movement better, however free squatting is still much nicer.

If you have heavy dumbells at the gym, you could maybe do dumbells squats instead. It requires a bit more balance to pull off with heavy weights though.

 

[endpoint]

oh shit i have been hanging my bag on that thing...

on a lighter note i have a friend whos surname is smith....and he proclaims that there is only one real "smith machine" in our gym