SMITH MACHINE...what is it good for?

[squatpuke]

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So I typically stay away from this piece of equipment....however, I saw buddy of mine doing incline bench presses.

I've had to quit bench inclines cause the bursitis in my 42 y/o shoulder won't let me clear the bar w/o big-time pain.

Anyway...gave it go and it seemed to do all right, no shoulder pain, lifted relatively heavy...felt slightly awkward since I was in a fixed plane...but otherwise, I think I'm going to try again...

Just wondering what other lifts might be "EF approved" for the Smith Machine...I mainly do PL' type lifts...(btw..I won't squat in there....EVER).

Thanks...

 

[djeclipse]

SMITH MACHINE...what is it good for?

Stretching on and hanging your towel, that is about it.

 

[ExtraMile]

I use it for calf raises standing on a block and I would use it for rack chins when/if I do them.

 

[SouthernLord]

Stretching on and hanging your towel, that is about it.

lol

While I feel some people over use the smith machine it does have it's place.

Squatpuke is a good example. He is able to train a movement around an injury without pain using the smith.

Personally I used the smith quite a bit for pressing exercise when I was training DC. This was out of necessity since I was going to failure multiple times in a single set without a spotter. I am a lot stronger with free weight presses though. Fixed plane movements suck.

 

[needtogetaas]

Stretching on and hanging your towel, that is about it.

I use it for MP because the gym I go to does not have a set up for this.

 

[elmarcouk]

Inverted Rows/Fat Man Pullups.

 

[mwm5]

i only use it if my work out partner doesn't come and i dont' have someone to spot me. i never do squats in it either.

 

[fortunatesun]

I've done Bulgarian split squats when it's crowded and there's not a free bench. The angle works for me. Loses in stabilization but easy to get good and low. I find split squats to be more of an isolation exercise than reg. squat anyway. Good pump.

 

[ALIN]

.
.
So I typically stay away from this piece of equipment....however, I saw buddy of mine doing incline bench presses.

I've had to quit bench inclines cause the bursitis in my 42 y/o shoulder won't let me clear the bar w/o big-time pain.

Anyway...gave it go and it seemed to do all right, no shoulder pain, lifted relatively heavy...felt slightly awkward since I was in a fixed plane...but otherwise, I think I'm going to try again...

Just wondering what other lifts might be "EF approved" for the Smith Machine...I mainly do PL' type lifts...(btw..I won't squat in there....EVER).

Thanks...

I use it sometimes,,,for various exercise,,,often shrugs or seated shoulder presses.

 

[SaiBoT]

Inclined bench press, shoulder press, rows, drag curl, calf raises, split squats, can all be done on the smith-machine. Deads and squats it's dangerous, specially squats the fixed motion can cause negatives forces on the knee joint and ligaments.

 

[the.gladiator1987]

heavy calf raises, its really good for this, i couldnt walk for a week i got some serious DOMS

Also use a smith for military press behind the neck, but i also do db military, bb military and arnolds. I kind of have a shoulder problem so it helps to use something that isolates my shoulders and keep my form in check

 

[cobracock1979]

definately not squats.

Military press, shrugs, inverted row, pull ups

 

[FunFun]

heavy calf raises, its really good for this, i couldnt walk for a week i got some serious DOMS

Also use a smith for military press behind the neck, but i also do db military, bb military and arnolds. I kind of have a shoulder problem so it helps to use something that isolates my shoulders and keep my form in check

I also use it for seated presses behind neck at the end of my regular delt workout to perform FST-7s (fascia stretch training - 7 sets) for a maximum pump. I would use a lateral raise machine if my gym had one, but the smith machine takes out a lot of the stabilizers out of the movement which get in the way of effective FST training.

 

[the_alcatraz]

safer than free weights....good range of motion