Smith Squats Versus Regular Squats

[Chris Columbus]

I am wanting some other people's opinions on this. Regular Squats don't seem to do anything for my quads. They seem to only put pressure on my back. Getting into a traditional squat position and and feeling comfortable doesn't seem possible for me.

[RBIZZY]

i like smith machien when i am just building... it saves on alot of injurys... alot of body builders i know will use smith instead of free weights to stay away from injury.

[Chris Columbus]

Cool. I used to free squat a lot when I was younger but, after an injury I really have noticed that I am not in the right position. I hope that more people respond because I am interested in a lot of people's opinion on the matter.

[Undecided09]

Cool. I used to free squat a lot when I was younger but, after an injury I really have noticed that I am not in the right position. I hope that more people respond because I am interested in a lot of people's opinion on the matter.

well Squats are such a great compound movement, I would think that using smith machines would deterioriate much of the stabilizing and smaller muscle groups that are used in the movement...Also, since it is a compound movement, its thus not an isolation movement, if u really want to isolate quads do more movements that dont incorporate glutes and hams....

Also, if your back is hurting, its probably because ur form is incorrect, or ur the bar is to high up on ur back, causing ur upper body to move forward over ur toes, and ur almost doing a semi "good morning" and ur back is being used.....

My two cents...

[SidewayZ]

well Squats are such a great compound movement, I would think that using smith machines would deterioriate much of the stabilizing and smaller muscle groups that are used in the movement...Also, since it is a compound movement, its thus not an isolation movement, if u really want to isolate quads do more movements that dont incorporate glutes and hams....

Also, if your back is hurting, its probably because ur form is incorrect, or ur the bar is to high up on ur back, causing ur upper body to move forward over ur toes, and ur almost doing a semi "good morning" and ur back is being used.....

My two cents...

^^^^I agree!

[Ronnie Rowland]

I am wanting some other people's opinions on this. Regular Squats don't seem to do anything for my quads. They seem to only put pressure on my back. Getting into a traditional squat position and and feeling comfortable doesn't seem possible for me.

1) Are you doing dead-lifts to build up the posterior chain?

2) Are you doing high bar or low bar squats like "undecided" mentioned?

3) Are you going all the way down or stopping at parrallel?

4) Does you back hurt when doing other exercises such as bent rows?

[green22]

If regular squats dont work and smiths do then it simple...smiths

[Ronnie Rowland]

If regular squats dont work and smiths do then it simple...smiths

I agree with green. Squats are not the answer for everyone!!

[Ncogneato]

I have always had trouble with free squats. Keeping my feet flat and keeping my balance has always been a huge challange for me. I relied on the smith squats for a long time but I felt like the limited range of motion was actually worse for me than the free squats. So I went back to the basics. I practiced and practiced my form with just the bar and no weight. Then I began to slowly add weight. I felt like a total ***** squatting with 50lbs but it really helped me build up all those ancillery and stabilizer muscles while keeping correct form. I am still squatting light weight but I feel like I am accomplishing more. Don't let pride get in the way of practice and performance.

[Longball]

I have always had trouble with free squats. Keeping my feet flat and keeping my balance has always been a huge challange for me. I relied on the smith squats for a long time but I felt like the limited range of motion was actually worse for me than the free squats. So I went back to the basics. I practiced and practiced my form with just the bar and no weight. Then I began to slowly add weight. I felt like a total ***** squatting with 50lbs but it really helped me build up all those ancillery and stabilizer muscles while keeping correct form. I am still squatting light weight but I feel like I am accomplishing more. Don't let pride get in the way of practice and performance.

excellent post! have you tried using some chuck taylors when you squat? I saw this recommendation all over the place but never incorperated it until I was having the same problem with wanting to rock forward on my toes when lifting. I switched and now concentrate on driving my heels through the floor and have noticed excellent results.

[Ncogneato]

^^^I never heard of that, but it may be worth trying. Thanks.

[Ronnie Rowland]

I have always had trouble with free squats. Keeping my feet flat and keeping my balance has always been a huge challange for me. I relied on the smith squats for a long time but I felt like the limited range of motion was actually worse for me than the free squats. So I went back to the basics. I practiced and practiced my form with just the bar and no weight. Then I began to slowly add weight. I felt like a total ***** squatting with 50lbs but it really helped me build up all those ancillery and stabilizer muscles while keeping correct form. I am still squatting light weight but I feel like I am accomplishing more. Don't let pride get in the way of practice and performance.

Very good point! And quite often, placing one's heels on a 10 lb plate is all that's needed to keep proper alignment and relieve pressure from the spine when squatting.

[Longball]

^^^I never heard of that, but it may be worth trying. Thanks.

Check out any of the Westside videos on youtube and you'll see them all wearing wrestling shoes, chuck taylors, or someother flat footed type shoe.

[Renesis]

See my back slightly hurts when I squeeze out that last rep or 2 because my form starts to fail, but my back always hurts with the smith machine. Something about it just doesn't feel right and my back starts to kill!! I like the free squat but then again I am young so that is probably why.