Question..Smith Machine vs Squats

[hoss827]

I mean I know they both do the same excercise...but it hurts my back like hell doing squats. The smith machine doesnt give you as much of a "feel' as do regular squats....If I'm doing like 350 for squat, what would that be on the smith machine? basically, I want to feel the same difficulty..but be safer using the machine.

[abstrack]

I have no idea, i rather use a hack squat maching that a smith machine if your having issues

[bigol'legs]

Hoss... most smith machines are counter weighted, so the bar weighs about 15 lbs.... so add 30 and you'll be doing the same..

smith machine squats are great if your lifting by yourself... just walk out take a plate off, the do some more..

[hoss827]

So do I double the weight for everything??? Like if i did 405...would I add 805? Or just add enough for the bar.?

[bigol'legs]

Man hoss... you sess to amaze me...

just add an extra 30 lbs...

[BDTR]

They dont compare, AT ALL. You're taking away the use of all your stabilizer muscles when using a smith machine. Free Squat or dont. Not to mention i find smith machine squats hard on my knees, anything with a fixed plane of motion tends to.

[bigol'legs]

They dont compare, AT ALL. You're taking away the use of all your stabilizer muscles when using a smith machine. Free Squat or dont. Not to mention i find smith machine squats hard on my knees, anything with a fixed plane of motion tends to.

so... you dont do hack squats?

[ItalianMuscle]

I like hacks bro..

[BDTR]

Nope.

My quad workout consists of squats and leg extensions, and they're up to 31 inches with fairly low BF, so im happy.

so... you dont do hack squats?

[hoss827]

Hack squats are nice...

[ItalianMuscle]

yup...

[bigol'legs]

Nope.

My quad workout consists of squats and leg extensions, and they're up to 31 inches with fairly low BF, so im happy.

ya bro.. if its working for you. But I like having a big regiment of different stuff to do...

hell... you dont do just flat bench and flat flys...

Or do you...

[BDTR]

and dips.

ya bro.. if its working for you. But I like having a big
regiment of different stuff to do...

hell... you dont do just flat bench and flat flys...

Or do you...

[hoss827]

are you ****ting me?!!?!??!? It's gotta be the test....

[beenie]

I always hold back on the weight I lift when I do squats because I am so afraid of hurting my back. With the smith I can add a lot more weight without the same fear. Still the workout seems more complete with squats and I feel it all over rather than tghe more targetede results of the smith.

[bornbad71]

Smith machine squats are ok........but like bdtr said u miss out on the stabalizer muscles.

Switch between squats and smith machine squats each week........that way u get both........u will hit your stabalizer muscles every other week.

[LM1332]

yea like yesterday for example all smith machines were taking so i had to do squats and well i tried to do the weight that i usually do and well i almost dropped it on my head so ill go with squats as for overall thing

[abstrack]

no offense but the smith machine squats are for girls

[BDTR]

Amen to that!

Get under the rack and move some weight, leave the smith machine for woman who are looking to tone!

no offense but the smith machine squats are for girls

[bigol'legs]

Amen to that!

Get under the rack and move some weight, leave the smith machine for woman who are looking to tone!

we need a flame forum...

[murph]

i just use one of these,..... (Hoss its a power rack ) they are safe and you can go to total failure with no worries heres my cage

[RageControl]

i just use one of these,..... (Hoss its a power rack ) they are safe and you can go to total failure with no worries heres my cage

Hit the nail on the head get in the cage! I throw smiths in every once in a blue moon .

[bermich]

No comment here cause I dont wanna get flamed. I personally dont do well with regular squats. Stabilizing compensation will have to do. Besides. If the leg muscles are growing, Im not complaining. So what if Im using a female machine. FUKC YOU ALL

[bermich]

Honestly though It was a good question.

[abstrack]

No comment here cause I dont wanna get flamed. I personally dont do well with regular squats. Stabilizing compensation will have to do. Besides. If the leg muscles are growing, Im not complaining. So what if Im using a female machine. FUKC YOU ALL

It's all good if you use one Bermich, since you are
of the female gender your quite the exception.

[bigol'legs]

I use a smith machine..

[murph]

I use a smith machine..

i have one of those too,... shhhhh....

[bigol'legs]

hey murph... is that your own home gym?

cause thats pretty cool if it is..

[Symian]

no offense but the smith machine squats are for girls

LOL Sorry for all those who use it, but I second that motion.

And for all of you who are afraid for hurting your lower back: start doing deadlifts! Squats, deadlifts, and pullups are my favorite excercises. Mostly cuz I'm one of the few who do them and I can yell my head off and be the freak in the gym.

Sym

[bermich]

Well, I think squats are what cause my herniated disc to flare up. If I can get as much isolation as possible then I will use it.

As for the incline. That isnt a bad idea either if you have no spotter and dont wanna hit the bar on the top of your head putting it back on the rack if you arent using dumb bells.


As far as my female status: I am very happy with it. Im coming to terms with my femality. I feel pretty.

[bigol'legs]

no offense but the smith machine squats are for girls

well this girls got some good sized legs from it..

[saboudian]

I don't do free weight squats because they are placed at the end of my workout, after I've already hit hams, so if i do squats my hams fail first, and there is no way i would put hams after quads.

I tried doing smith squats several times, and i use a stance where my feet are a couple feet in front of the bar, so when i go down it looks as if I'm sitting back, which is how it should be. Only problem with doing this is that it seems to put alot of stress on my lower back(not bad stress) and my back fails before my quads.

So in general now I've been to sticking machine hack squats and leg presses and varying the stances, although I do need to find a way to introduce a couple other exercises, but i'm stumped for the moment.

[bigol'legs]

I don't do free weight squats because they are placed at the end of my workout, after I've already hit hams, so if i do squats my hams fail first, and there is no way i would put hams after quads.

I tried doing smith squats several times, and i use a stance where my feet are a couple feet in front of the bar, so when i go down it looks as if I'm sitting back, which is how it should be. Only problem with doing this is that it seems to put alot of stress on my lower back(not bad stress) and my back fails before my quads.

So in general now I've been to sticking machine hack squats and leg presses and varying the stances, although I do need to find a way to introduce a couple other exercises, but i'm stumped for the moment.

lunges... and single leg presses..

[murph]

hey murph... is that your own home gym?

cause thats pretty cool if it is..

yep,.... i have a workshop out in back of my home,...... i`ve turned it into a little home gym type set-up,. i will start a separate thread and put up some more pics of it (dont want to hijack Hoss`s thread here )