Most Useless Equipment in the Gym?

Training Bodybuilding
81

[quote]juverulez wrote:
Artem wrote:
juverulez wrote:
eggowned wrote:
juverulez wrote:
Stength4life wrote:
Why does everyone gotta be hatin on the Smith Machine? It’s actually a really great piece of equipment.

is it? first time to hear… care to elaborate?

because tons of people have gotten fucking huge using it

lol, okay, if you say so…
Are you shitting me?

I can tell by your picture that you know tons about getting huge, but the Smith machine is a great tool. Please refrain from speaking on matters which you know nothing about for the good of the other forum-goers. I thought that the Smith was to be steered clear of for a long time because of clueless people like you. All equipment has a good use. Just because you haven’t found one doesn’t mean that others haven’t.

tsss, most certainly he got that big using the smith machine. I ve actually found not one but as many as 10 uses for a smith machine: Strength Training, Bodybuilding & Online Supplement Store - T NATION
[/quote]

How the fuck do you know what he did to get big? Or what anyone did to get big at that.

82

[quote]Carlitosway wrote:
CrookedCrown wrote:
Cephalic_Carnage wrote:

You guys just have no clue how to use it properly.

It isn’t needed, but it sure is a gift to tricep and shoulder training for a whole bunch of people… And very useful when using exercise rotations…

No one calls the olympic barbell a useless piece of equipment, even though lots of people have truly ended up crippled from messing up on back squats, bench presses and whatnot.

It’s more often than not the people messing up, not the machines/exercises/equipment.
If squatting in the smith feels weird to you, then don’t do it. Doesn’t mean that the smith machine can’t be used for In-human Presses or wide-RGB’s or whatever else.

Some here just love to post the standard internet-article dogma bs every time some topic like this comes up (and I don’t really mean crooked crown by this, just a general observation…)

Edit: And of course there are a lot of different smith versions… Looks like the U.S. guys always get the crappy counter-weighted grandpa variant, well, not the smith’s fault.

I completely agree. Just wanted to take a quick shot at the smith machine, because I see SOOOOOOOO many trainers/trainees doing borderline stuff with them. Personally, I love them for explosive bench tosses. But when it comes to leg work, I’ll take a power rack any day. It’s very true that there is nothing inherently wrong with the smith machine, it just get misused a lot. And I was just waiting for somebody to make the point that a lot of people get crippled with olympic bars.

I use smith machines and other sensible machines, barbell movements, dumbbell movements.
I use them all! Why? All these things are means to help me achieve what my end goal is in this endeavor we call “bodybuilding”.

[/quote]
exactly
/end thread
seriously

83

[quote]Artem wrote:
juverulez wrote:
Artem wrote:
juverulez wrote:
eggowned wrote:
juverulez wrote:
Stength4life wrote:
Why does everyone gotta be hatin on the Smith Machine? It’s actually a really great piece of equipment.

is it? first time to hear… care to elaborate?

because tons of people have gotten fucking huge using it

lol, okay, if you say so…
Are you shitting me?

I can tell by your picture that you know tons about getting huge, but the Smith machine is a great tool. Please refrain from speaking on matters which you know nothing about for the good of the other forum-goers. I thought that the Smith was to be steered clear of for a long time because of clueless people like you. All equipment has a good use. Just because you haven’t found one doesn’t mean that others haven’t.

tsss, most certainly he got that big using the smith machine. I ve actually found not one but as many as 10 uses for a smith machine: Strength Training, Bodybuilding & Online Supplement Store - T NATION

How the fuck do you know what he did to get big? Or what anyone did to get big at that.
[/quote]

I just listen to the all knowing artem cause he seems to know everything lol

84

[quote]Carlitosway wrote:
CrookedCrown wrote:
Cephalic_Carnage wrote:

You guys just have no clue how to use it properly.

It isn’t needed, but it sure is a gift to tricep and shoulder training for a whole bunch of people… And very useful when using exercise rotations…

No one calls the olympic barbell a useless piece of equipment, even though lots of people have truly ended up crippled from messing up on back squats, bench presses and whatnot.

It’s more often than not the people messing up, not the machines/exercises/equipment.
If squatting in the smith feels weird to you, then don’t do it. Doesn’t mean that the smith machine can’t be used for In-human Presses or wide-RGB’s or whatever else.

Some here just love to post the standard internet-article dogma bs every time some topic like this comes up (and I don’t really mean crooked crown by this, just a general observation…)

Edit: And of course there are a lot of different smith versions… Looks like the U.S. guys always get the crappy counter-weighted grandpa variant, well, not the smith’s fault.

I completely agree. Just wanted to take a quick shot at the smith machine, because I see SOOOOOOOO many trainers/trainees doing borderline stuff with them. Personally, I love them for explosive bench tosses. But when it comes to leg work, I’ll take a power rack any day. It’s very true that there is nothing inherently wrong with the smith machine, it just get misused a lot. And I was just waiting for somebody to make the point that a lot of people get crippled with olympic bars.

I use smith machines and other sensible machines, barbell movements, dumbbell movements.
I use them all! Why? All these things are means to help me achieve what my end goal is in this endeavor we call “bodybuilding”.

Plus I love using the smith machine or machine squats especially when my lower back is feeling fatigued from barbell movements.
[/quote]

I completely agree. Once people actually break the 500 mark on squats or deads or 315 on bench, they will find, after their lower back and joints stop throwing a shit fit from sheer pressure due to load, that a Smith Machine is a godsend. Smith Machine allowed me keep squatting and benching after my shoulder joints and lower back couldn’t handle the free weights anymore while simultaneously allowing me to keep training those bodyparts. And I know there are several ways around every problem in the iron game, but that is what I chose to do and it worked for me. That is what happens if you train hard and long enough.

So, when I got back to the free weights, I was not only without pain, but stronger. Newbies, keep training and progressing and soon enough you’ll find out why every piece of equipment (excluding personal trainers, who are indeed useless) has a purpose for your personal progression.

85

[quote]juverulez wrote:

I just listen to the all knowing artem cause he seems to know everything lol[/quote]

i highly recommend you stop talking, considering it appears as though Artem really does know more than you on the subject. its making you come off as an electro-ponce

86

[quote]forlife wrote:
What is the one piece of equipment in your gym that you never use, and why?

For me, it’s probably the 4-way neck machine. I could maybe see it if you had a neck injury and needed to do rehab, but would much rather spend my time on other lifts.[/quote]

I use it for building up neck strength. Anyways, I need it for football and wrestling.

I never use the cardio equipment at any gym I ever go to. I would much rather run outside.

87

[quote]juverulez wrote:
Artem wrote:
juverulez wrote:
eggowned wrote:
juverulez wrote:
Stength4life wrote:
Why does everyone gotta be hatin on the Smith Machine? It’s actually a really great piece of equipment.

is it? first time to hear… care to elaborate?

because tons of people have gotten fucking huge using it

lol, okay, if you say so…
Are you shitting me?

I can tell by your picture that you know tons about getting huge, but the Smith machine is a great tool. Please refrain from speaking on matters which you know nothing about for the good of the other forum-goers. I thought that the Smith was to be steered clear of for a long time because of clueless people like you. All equipment has a good use. Just because you haven’t found one doesn’t mean that others haven’t.

tsss, most certainly he got that big using the smith machine. I ve actually found not one but as many as 10 uses for a smith machine: Strength Training, Bodybuilding & Online Supplement Store - T NATION
[/quote]

That’s cute you come into a bodybuilding forum throwing a link to an article by a powerlifter(Not bashin Cressey I respect guy a lot in what he does BTW) who works with who? All sorts of athletes not bodybuilders!!!

88

mb for the double post stupid comp!

89

[quote]sam_sneed wrote:
You feel it in the muscle to the right of your shin bone.[/quote]

I “sprained” that recently. (Don’t ask, I have no idea.)

What a pain in the ass. I can Deadlift no problem. Put on a sock or get up off a chair, intense sharp pain. So fucking annoying.

90

[quote]juverulez wrote:
LiveFromThe781 wrote:
smith machines definately have their place. i wouldnt use it for squats but a lot of people, big people, use it for RGBP and shoulder pressing. fixed plane of motions noooooooooooooooooooo!!! :frowning:

Nah man, we know nothing… if u wanna get hyuuuge you gotta use the smith machine, it’s the way to go. It’s soooooo much better for doing the squat, cannot really think of a better piece of equipment. Gotta start deadlifting using it and see how that goes[/quote]

judging from your avatar you really should just get under some kind of bar, regardless.

i hope youre a troll just because if you arent human kind is ultimately doomed.

91

[quote]juverulez wrote:
Artem wrote:
juverulez wrote:
Artem wrote:
juverulez wrote:
eggowned wrote:
juverulez wrote:
Stength4life wrote:
Why does everyone gotta be hatin on the Smith Machine? It’s actually a really great piece of equipment.

is it? first time to hear… care to elaborate?

because tons of people have gotten fucking huge using it

lol, okay, if you say so…
Are you shitting me?

I can tell by your picture that you know tons about getting huge, but the Smith machine is a great tool. Please refrain from speaking on matters which you know nothing about for the good of the other forum-goers. I thought that the Smith was to be steered clear of for a long time because of clueless people like you. All equipment has a good use. Just because you haven’t found one doesn’t mean that others haven’t.

tsss, most certainly he got that big using the smith machine. I ve actually found not one but as many as 10 uses for a smith machine: Strength Training, Bodybuilding & Online Supplement Store - T NATION

How the fuck do you know what he did to get big? Or what anyone did to get big at that.

I just listen to the all knowing artem cause he seems to know everything lol[/quote]

Well if you can act like you know everything, why can’t he? Considering he apparently has a reason to act like that towards you, since he…Uh… Knows more.

92

[quote]G87 wrote:
horsepuss wrote:
The assisted dip/pullup machine.

lol wut

The crunch machine. Seriously…[/quote]

X2 + Smith (well I use it to help me stretch and, of course, hang my coat on it.)

93

Bar pad for squatting.

94

Surely it’s the stereo system at ours…WORST…MUSIC…EVER. Spandeau Ballet never psyched me up for my deads!

95

[quote]rbpowerhouse wrote:
When people get into this hobby (usually a few weeks/months before they create an account here), they begin reading the published literature all over the internet - with the “athletics/performance trainers” demonizing machines and preaching the “free weights or bust” philosophy to young lifters interested in getting bigger…which unfortunately prevents a lot of hopefuls from consistently making progress up to and beyond an intermediate stage.

Bodybuilding is about progression - whether its on a nautilus machine or with a pair of DBs. GO from benching 100 pounds on a nautilus to benching 500 pounds on the same nautilus (while gaining bodyweight) and you will find your chest and shoulders are a lot thicker than before. The trouble is you’re not going from 100 pounds on a nautilus to 600 anytime soon if you JUST train that movement.

You typically find that strength gains on any movement stop once you hit a “fixed groove” in that movement which means your body has found its “perfect” way to execute said movement using your existing musculature to the fullest extent.
The guy benching 600-700 raw with a powerlifting form has ALSO hit his groove on the free weight BB press and the only changes he can make thereafter are changing foot placement, deepening arch, whatever. And they will rely on board presses (shortening ROM to accustom to heavier loads), accessory work and hypertrophy to draw further strength gains (if at all possible).

The trouble with machines is that they CAN plant you in a “fixed groove” a hell of a lot quicker than a free-weight movement does if you keep training the same movement. Thats one of the main reasons why free weights are generally more amenable to consistent strength gains and why movements involving a LOT of muscles (like the free weight squat) give you lots of room to “tweak your form” and milk strength gains from session to session.

The argument about “free weight movements” recruiting stabilizers is misunderstood. Just because a muscle is recruited as a stabilizer does not mean it receives a training effect from the movement…your calves stabilize you in a standing BB curl but you’re not getting thick-ass calves because of that. But the more muscles that are involved, the more room for “grinding out a rep” and increasing load on the bar - and thats why free weights are great. Grinding out a rep is trickier on a machine…but you have the option of restricting the focus on a specific muscle group so any progress will directly translate to a training effect for that group.

Thats also why forcing your body to use a “super-strict form” in any movement will quickly halt strength gains until you “soften your form” a bit and start focusing on a balance between load and form to keep the gains coming.

Anwyay, the point of this stupidly long post/hijack was just to remind you that progression is progression, whether free weights or machines. And as far as BBing is concerned, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the smith machine or hammer strength equipment (or any of the equipment listed on this thread thus far) beyond personal issues -the HS wide chest hurts my shoulders and my arms at my shoulder width don;t fit into most nautilus lateral raise machines so they’re useless for me for e.g. - as long as your focus is on increasing the weight.
[/quote]

Best post in the thread so far.

Periodization, variety, and challenging your muscles in new ways are the key to continual growth. Both machines and free weights play a role.

I still say the 4 way neck machine sucks though :wink:

96

[quote]rbpowerhouse wrote:
When people get into this hobby (usually a few weeks/months before they create an account here), they begin reading the published literature all over the internet - with the “athletics/performance trainers” demonizing machines and preaching the “free weights or bust” philosophy to young lifters interested in getting bigger…which unfortunately prevents a lot of hopefuls from consistently making progress up to and beyond an intermediate stage.

Bodybuilding is about progression - whether its on a nautilus machine or with a pair of DBs. GO from benching 100 pounds on a nautilus to benching 500 pounds on the same nautilus (while gaining bodyweight) and you will find your chest and shoulders are a lot thicker than before. The trouble is you’re not going from 100 pounds on a nautilus to 600 anytime soon if you JUST train that movement.

You typically find that strength gains on any movement stop once you hit a “fixed groove” in that movement which means your body has found its “perfect” way to execute said movement using your existing musculature to the fullest extent.
The guy benching 600-700 raw with a powerlifting form has ALSO hit his groove on the free weight BB press and the only changes he can make thereafter are changing foot placement, deepening arch, whatever. And they will rely on board presses (shortening ROM to accustom to heavier loads), accessory work and hypertrophy to draw further strength gains (if at all possible).

The trouble with machines is that they CAN plant you in a “fixed groove” a hell of a lot quicker than a free-weight movement does if you keep training the same movement. Thats one of the main reasons why free weights are generally more amenable to consistent strength gains and why movements involving a LOT of muscles (like the free weight squat) give you lots of room to “tweak your form” and milk strength gains from session to session.

The argument about “free weight movements” recruiting stabilizers is misunderstood. Just because a muscle is recruited as a stabilizer does not mean it receives a training effect from the movement…your calves stabilize you in a standing BB curl but you’re not getting thick-ass calves because of that. But the more muscles that are involved, the more room for “grinding out a rep” and increasing load on the bar - and thats why free weights are great. Grinding out a rep is trickier on a machine…but you have the option of restricting the focus on a specific muscle group so any progress will directly translate to a training effect for that group.

Thats also why forcing your body to use a “super-strict form” in any movement will quickly halt strength gains until you “soften your form” a bit and start focusing on a balance between load and form to keep the gains coming.

Anwyay, the point of this stupidly long post/hijack was just to remind you that progression is progression, whether free weights or machines. And as far as BBing is concerned, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the smith machine or hammer strength equipment (or any of the equipment listed on this thread thus far) beyond personal issues -the HS wide chest hurts my shoulders and my arms at my shoulder width don;t fit into most nautilus lateral raise machines so they’re useless for me for e.g. - as long as your focus is on increasing the weight.
[/quote]

Best post in the thread so far.

Periodization, variety, and challenging your muscles in new ways are the key to continual growth. Both machines and free weights play a role.

I still say the 4 way neck machine sucks though :wink:

97

[quote]rbpowerhouse wrote:
When people get into this hobby (usually a few weeks/months before they create an account here), they begin reading the published literature all over the internet - with the “athletics/performance trainers” demonizing machines and preaching the “free weights or bust” philosophy to young lifters interested in getting bigger…which unfortunately prevents a lot of hopefuls from consistently making progress up to and beyond an intermediate stage.

Bodybuilding is about progression - whether its on a nautilus machine or with a pair of DBs. GO from benching 100 pounds on a nautilus to benching 500 pounds on the same nautilus (while gaining bodyweight) and you will find your chest and shoulders are a lot thicker than before. The trouble is you’re not going from 100 pounds on a nautilus to 600 anytime soon if you JUST train that movement.

You typically find that strength gains on any movement stop once you hit a “fixed groove” in that movement which means your body has found its “perfect” way to execute said movement using your existing musculature to the fullest extent.
The guy benching 600-700 raw with a powerlifting form has ALSO hit his groove on the free weight BB press and the only changes he can make thereafter are changing foot placement, deepening arch, whatever. And they will rely on board presses (shortening ROM to accustom to heavier loads), accessory work and hypertrophy to draw further strength gains (if at all possible).

The trouble with machines is that they CAN plant you in a “fixed groove” a hell of a lot quicker than a free-weight movement does if you keep training the same movement. Thats one of the main reasons why free weights are generally more amenable to consistent strength gains and why movements involving a LOT of muscles (like the free weight squat) give you lots of room to “tweak your form” and milk strength gains from session to session.

The argument about “free weight movements” recruiting stabilizers is misunderstood. Just because a muscle is recruited as a stabilizer does not mean it receives a training effect from the movement…your calves stabilize you in a standing BB curl but you’re not getting thick-ass calves because of that. But the more muscles that are involved, the more room for “grinding out a rep” and increasing load on the bar - and thats why free weights are great. Grinding out a rep is trickier on a machine…but you have the option of restricting the focus on a specific muscle group so any progress will directly translate to a training effect for that group.

Thats also why forcing your body to use a “super-strict form” in any movement will quickly halt strength gains until you “soften your form” a bit and start focusing on a balance between load and form to keep the gains coming.

Anwyay, the point of this stupidly long post/hijack was just to remind you that progression is progression, whether free weights or machines. And as far as BBing is concerned, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the smith machine or hammer strength equipment (or any of the equipment listed on this thread thus far) beyond personal issues -the HS wide chest hurts my shoulders and my arms at my shoulder width don;t fit into most nautilus lateral raise machines so they’re useless for me for e.g. - as long as your focus is on increasing the weight.
[/quote]

Best post in the thread so far.

Periodization, variety, and challenging your muscles in new ways are the key to continual growth. Both machines and free weights play a role.

I still say the 4 way neck machine sucks though :wink:

98

[quote]LiveFromThe781 wrote:
juverulez wrote:
LiveFromThe781 wrote:
smith machines definately have their place. i wouldnt use it for squats but a lot of people, big people, use it for RGBP and shoulder pressing. fixed plane of motions noooooooooooooooooooo!!! :frowning:

Nah man, we know nothing… if u wanna get hyuuuge you gotta use the smith machine, it’s the way to go. It’s soooooo much better for doing the squat, cannot really think of a better piece of equipment. Gotta start deadlifting using it and see how that goes

judging from your avatar you really should just get under some kind of bar, regardless.

i hope youre a troll just because if you arent human kind is ultimately doomed.[/quote]

Dude, fuck progress, he’s been training for 3 years, he KNOWS what he’s talking about.

10 bucks says he chimes in and blames his lack of progress on his soccer ambitions.

99

All that gym equipment is pretty much useless all you need is a barbell and the plates boys :slight_smile: let’s not oercomplicate things here

100

[quote]Kruiser wrote:
The Personal Trainer.[/quote]

X999
THose douchebags try to interfere with my workouts and they dont know a shit…And when I try to explain they laugh…Fuck those Fuckers…