Smith machine

[Willocraig]

Hay guys, need some advice. Joined my local gym and they havnt got a weights bench to do bench press on, they have a smith machine, and ive been using it the last couple of weeks but i cant feel any effect on my chest, its hitting my shoulders and triceps more which i know is bad. I believe im using the machine incorrectly, I lie "outside" the machine if you know wat i mean, not "within it" and because the smith mahine`s runners are at a slight angle I`m pushing against the angle, if you know wat i mean,? Basically I want to know how to bench press on a smith machine correctly.

The link below shows a picture of a smith machine, I lie with my feet at the left of the picture and my head nearer the wieghts end, should I be reversed, ie. my feet the end where the weights are?

http://www.touslesprix.com/ph_img/1/0/3/103838.jpg

Thanks for any help guys
Really appreciate it!!

 

[Cynical Simian]

The correct way to use a Smith for benching is to use it to store your gym bag while you do regular bench. In other words, you're not far enough outside the machine. Try being really far outside it, as in at another gym with squat racks and free weight benches.

Seriously, don't bother with the Smith machine.

 

[mad dipz]

Hay guys, need some advice. Joined my local gym and they havnt got a weights bench to do bench press on, they have a smith machine, and ive been using it the last couple of weeks but i cant feel any effect on my chest, its hitting my shoulders and triceps more which i know is bad. I believe im using the machine incorrectly, I lie "outside" the machine if you know wat i mean, not "within it" and because the smith mahine`s runners are at a slight angle I`m pushing against the angle, if you know wat i mean,? Basically I want to know how to bench press on a smith machine correctly.

The link below shows a picture of a smith machine, I lie with my feet at the left of the picture and my head nearer the wieghts end, should I be reversed, ie. my feet the end where the weights are?

http://www.touslesprix.com/ph_img/1/0/3/103838.jpg

Thanks for any help guys
Really appreciate it!!

get your money back, and either go find a new gym WITH free weights or go buy yourself a free weight set, completed with a barbell, rack, bench, and of course, the weights

 

[silver_shadow]

haha! i've done dumb things like that in the past... i once joined a gym with a decline bench and one of those incline bench machine thingys but no free weight bench... no squat rack either and i had to use the smith for flat bench and squats... stay away from such gyms.

 

[Guinness5.0]

LOL how did I know this guy would be from England?!?! What is it with you guys' 'gyms' having no free weights?

In all seriousness I would take the advice to find another gym or buy a power rack and a flat bench and do the right exercises. The smith is at best slightly better than nothing at all.

 

[Tweakle]

I remember the gyms back home, the average fitness centre will have a few non-olympic bars (rated to about 200lbs) and lots of shitty substandard machines. It's a totally different gym culture ... luckily there's some decent gyms but theyre few and far between

I like the regular smith for some lifts but the angled Smith is truely a worthless horrible piece of shit that should be melted down. My local gym has 3 of those homo magnets

 

[Tweakle]

oh, what you do if you want to INCLINE or DECLINE (NEVER FLAT) on that machine is stack 45's under one end of the machine until it's vertical. If anyone asks you what you're doing tell them to buy decent equipment and you won't have to improvise.

 

[Cynical Simian]

LOL how did I know this guy would be from England?!?! What is it with you guys' 'gyms' having no free weights?

I wonder whether anotherbutters will read this thread and realize he's been using a Smith all these years.

 

[Willocraig]

Thanks for the feedback guys, yeah it really sucks there aren`t any free weights and yeah the majority of gyms in the uk are pritty poor, only problem is there are no other gym`s within about 40mins of me. I believe the gym used to be a real bodybuilding gym before they revamped it, and they got rid of all the free weights to prevent bodybuilders, fucking pathetic!! I`ll speak to afew people down there and see if i can get anything changed, otherwise i think i might just do what Tweakle said, seems the best solution until i can get something more permanent sorted, ive got a weights bench at home but the weights aren`t heavy enough, so i think as a last resort il buy some weights and do bench press at home.

Thanks again!

 

[blut wump]

Check out this place for prices when you decide to make a home gym
http://www.fitness-superstore.co.uk/

I strongly recommend getting a power rack if you'll be working out alone and want to keep getting older.

LOL how did I know this guy would be from England?!?! What is it with you guys' 'gyms' having no free weights?

Oi!

It's true, though. The worst one I went to had only a selection of light dumbells. The 'instructor' showing me around told me that some of the bigger guys bring their own weights in to work out with. Likely.