Today I did something different by doing squats on the Smith…the thing is,I loaded up much more weight on the Smith and managed to knock out the reps but on the normal bar,I can’t put that much weight to attain proper balance and such…anyway,is it better to do squat with normal bar with not as much weight as opposed to doing smith squat with more weight?
I know it probably depends but I was just wondering…Thanks.
In my opinion I feel the smith machine is useless when it comes to training. I prefer full ass to the grass squats with a plain olympic bar and weights. I feel this involves more stabilizers and actually lets you know the true weight you can handle. I have seen smith machines not allow the full movement of the body as intended, due to it being staionary.
I guess you could use it for a while but don’t use it solely. I feel it is will just hamperyour potential.
But again that is just my opinion of years of training.
Nothing compares to regular squats. Also, as Poliquin or King would tell you, smith machine squats put incredible shearing forces on the knees. Also - are you sure you put more weight on? The smith machine bar is only 15 pounds compared to the 45 pound olympic. Most people just put the same number of plates on both side as they do on an olympic bar and bang out more reps, thinking the got stronger.
There’s a reason you can do more weight on a Smith - it supports the weight for you. Stick with the free weights, you’ll get better results and have a healthier lower back and knees.
These guys are right; squats (or any ‘free’ weight movement) are better. In fact, although I can do roughly 3 times the weight on a (I think its Cybex)leg press machine than a squat, I still like the squat for conditioning.
Big Red
I s this the same Big red that uses the HH name on other posts?
to mm: no, sure isn’t.
The Smith machine squat is a perfectly
good exercise, and does not put shearing
force on the knees, if the feet are placed
under the bar (as with the barbell squat)
rather than in front of the bar as so
many people do.
When doing the barbell squat, if the
weight on the barbell is substantial
then the movement MUST be such and is
such that the barbell is always over
the feet. Behind the feet or in front
of the feet and you’d fall over.
So in other words there is little
fore-and-aft movement in the barbell
squat. The bar is over the feet. The
same is true with the Smith machine
squat done in this manner. I am not
saying the exercises are identical
but I am saying it’s a good exercise,
does allow ass-to-the-grass squats,
and does not cause knee strain.
I use the smith from time to time, just to shake things up. Styles is right (most) smith machines have a bar weight of only 15 lbs. But careful, it can also vary depending on the manufaturer and who sets the machine up. Many times the bar weight is almost completely offset by the pully mechanism. Gym mgmnt should know the answer.
Smith machine squats and benches do not have a materially detrimental effect on one’s joints if done correctly and with good form. They also allow for greater intensity if one is not working out in an environment that allows for spotters. In brief, free weight is best but Smith machine is a good second. However you work out, safety, not results, should always be the primary concern.
Thanks guys,I have always done regular squats but decided to change it up a lil for the next 4 weeks.So I decided to do Smith machine squats and then later,switch back to regular.Thank you for the information and I will take all that you have said into mind.