Why do so many people hate smith machine?

[SolarEmpire44]

I dont get why so many ppl hate smith machine.. IMO its the best machine to use if your looking to build muscle mass.. The only exercise i dont use it with is flat bench press, but incline bench, military press and close grip bench press is awesome in the smith machine, it really lets you focus on the muscle being worked and you dont need a spotter..

Discuss

 

[musclemom]

Most people hate it for things like squats. If you're working out by yourself and have no spotter then it is a very useful tool.

 

[cuthroat]

because it doesn't work any of the support muscles nor does it follow your bodies natural range of motion. Also its common knowledge that 99% of those who use the smith machine like p in their b.

 

[themondtster]

I unfortunately have to use one right now for Squats. Forced to.work out at a 24 gym which has most everything else but a squat rack. One of a few problems with working shift work.


Agree with it not following body right. I usually have to put my feet a lil further forward when doing heavy weight just to come down right. In the process of trying to find me a 24 hour gym fully equipped.

 

[wiley79]

I like doing shoulder shrugs on it, front and back. about 500lbs on the front, 315 backware, it really gives me a good workout.

 

[Foamy27]

I like doing shoulder shrugs on it, front and back. about 500lbs on the front, 315 backware, it really gives me a good workout.

I like smith machine shrugs as well.. I occassionaly do rows on it also.

 

[moya]

all it is good for is for me to hang my knee wraps and belt on....

 

[stevesmi]

I unfortunately have to use one right now for Squats. Forced to.work out at a 24 gym which has most everything else but a squat rack. .

grab a couple mats or pads.. put them on the ground.

grab a bar. grab some weights. do a clean then jerk, then bring the weight down to your shoulders and then you can squat that way. when you are on your last rep squat low and then drop the bar onto the mats/pads

 

[machine23]

Shrugs is probably all I use it for.. Maybe shoulder presses.. That's about it tho..

 

[SolarEmpire44]

because it doesn't work any of the support muscles nor does it follow your bodies natural range of motion. Also its common knowledge that 99% of those who use the smith machine like p in their b.

I know it doesnt work the stabilizer muscle, thats why its so great, you can really focus on the muscle being worked instead of having to balance the bar like free weight.. Also it follow my body's natural range of motion great, just place the bench where you want it, Incline smith has made my chest so sore that i could not achieve it with free weight.

 

[SolarEmpire44]

all it is good for is for me to hang my knee wraps and belt on....

Since your a powerlifter you dont really need the smith machine since it doesnt increase free weight strength, but it really does a good job to build slabs of muscle mass, i dont care what anyone says, its a great machine that allows you to handle heavy weight and really focus on the muscle being worked..

 

[themondtster]

Steve_ I do it like that when I do front Squats. Never tried it the other way. May give a shoot next time.

Posted with my Droid EO Forum App

 

[Dogfox]

tis good for shoulder press and shrugs

 

[shibs]

It sucks. It takes great lifts like military press, squats, and rows and makes you isolate single muscles. It does NOT let your body follow it's natural pattern, you just think that because you've been using it so long. It does however let you use more weight, but how functional is that? A person who can squat 500 on the smith couldn't even approach the 400's on a regular oly bar. Far more strength, muscle control, and total muscles are being used with regular bars compared to smith machine. Since you're comparing the two, I assume you have plenty of experience on both sides of the fence here?

 

[shibs]

plus like cutthroat said, it's geigh

 

[moya]

you will get better overall development with free weights guys... you just cant argue that...
there is more than just chest tri back bi legs and shoulders, tons of smaller supporting muscles that get worked half-assed, if not totally neglected from using this thing...
you cant lift more weight on a smith as well... keep in mind the bar practically weighs nothing as it is totally supported by the rack... and when you squat (not sure about all lifts, but many years ago i squatted and pressed on one) you lean back against it, so a lot of the weight is absorbed by the rack due to friction....

 

[ExtraMile]

I use it for standing calf raises since there's no calf machine at my gym, that's the only exercise I consistently it it for.. I throw in smith machine shrugs every so often too, I seem to get a better ROM vs regular BB Shrugs.

I Would never use it for a big lift like bench, squats, bent over rows etc

 

[EarthRider]

I know it doesnt work the stabilizer muscle, thats why its so great, you can really focus on the muscle being worked instead of having to balance the bar like free weight.. Also it follow my body's natural range of motion great, just place the bench where you want it, Incline smith has made my chest so sore that i could not achieve it with free weight.

If this is what you believe, more power to you bro. You use your smith machine til the day you die. If you can't get sore from free weights, you probably aren't lifting enough weight, or you just don't know what your doing. That is hard to believe and makes no sense at all.

Trying to convince us that the smith machine is better then free weights wont get you very far and you wont get many followers. Now this doesn't mean I don't use the smith machine, but it is probably 15-20 percent of my lifts.

This is like trying to convince me McDonalds has the best cheeseburger in the world, we all know that is bs right.

 

[P_o_B]

well i also believe that the free weights r way better then the smith machine
but the mcds cheeseburger is the best in the world

 

[EarthRider]

well i also believe that the free weights r way better then the smith machine
but the mcds cheeseburger is the best in the world

too funny, I will give it best double cheeseburger for a dollar

 

[SolarEmpire44]

No shit free weight is better, but in some exercises smith is superior, like military, decline and incline press.. I agree that free weight squat, flat bench press and bent over rows are better but saying smith machine has no place or its gay is just stupid.. When i do incline dumbell or barbell my shoulder takes over the lift and i cant focus on my chest, but when i do incline smith all the weight is on my chest and i dont feel a thing in my shoulder and tricep, you also dont need a spotter..

 

[moya]

not trying to bust your balls bro, but that sounds like a form issue... probably nothing major, but just the slightest change in how you setup can make a huge difference... like a slight shift in your scapula or somthing like that, or tucking vs flaring the elbows... i believe myself to be more of a technical lifter than one by brute strength, though i still find myself finding slight adjustments that can make or break a PR or stimulate new growth...

 

[studlife22]

No shit free weight is better, but in some exercises smith is superior, like military, decline and incline press.. I agree that free weight squat, flat bench press and bent over rows are better but saying smith machine has no place or its gay is just stupid.. When i do incline dumbell or barbell my shoulder takes over the lift and i cant focus on my chest, but when i do incline smith all the weight is on my chest and i dont feel a thing in my shoulder and tricep, you also dont need a spotter..

Why would you not want to incorporate your shoulders and triceps when incline pressing???

 

[EarthRider]

Why would you not want to incorporate your shoulders and triceps when incline pressing???

this too. It's just a silly arguement he is trying to make. To say any smith machine workout is superior to any free weight is silly. Like I said earlier, I do use smith machines but only to change things up.

 

[turtlecool]

idk but i can feel more of a burn when i use dumb bell press instead of smith

 

[SolarEmpire44]

Why would you not want to incorporate your shoulders and triceps when incline pressing???

Because im working on my chest not shoulder or tricep.. lolz, so when you work on your back do you incorporate your legs and shoulder with them too?? Yup, thats what i thought.

 

[SolarEmpire44]

not trying to bust your balls bro, but that sounds like a form issue... probably nothing major, but just the slightest change in how you setup can make a huge difference... like a slight shift in your scapula or somthing like that, or tucking vs flaring the elbows... i believe myself to be more of a technical lifter than one by brute strength, though i still find myself finding slight adjustments that can make or break a PR or stimulate new growth...

i agree its the setup, the incline bench press in my gym is too high, its more like a front delt workout instead of upper pecs.

 

[C.K.]

I have shoulder issues so it works great for military presses other then that I stretch my hams on it once in a while

 

[EarthRider]

Because im working on my chest not shoulder or tricep.. lolz, so when you work on your back do you incorporate your legs and shoulder with them too?? Yup, thats what i thought.

Well yes I do work legs when doing back. Lots of lifts use a lot of the body. Deadlifts works legs while doing back also.

 

[red head]

i wouldnt say the smith machine is hated , its more like its sub optimal . why do you do big compound lifts with free weights ? because they use compund groups of muscles , the more muscles used = more stress , more forced adaptation and so on . ive never used a smith machine and i curl in the squat rack ! . thats becuase my garage doesnt have a smith machine and my home made squat rack is in my garage SO THERE !