Results 1 to 31 of 31
  1. #1
    bradhore's Avatar
    bradhore is offline Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    England - UK
    Posts
    684

    Smith Machine or not??

    Ive recently lost my spotting buddy, so started to use the smith machine.

    I know alot of people are totally against using the smith machine, but ive started using it and dont find it too bad.

    Is it really bad using it, rather than using the normal bench without resistance???

  2. #2
    inky-e's Avatar
    inky-e is offline AR's ORIGINAL ANABOLIC OUTLAW~ [RIP-8/20/11]
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    the three oh!
    Posts
    13,329
    Quote Originally Posted by bradhore View Post
    Ive recently lost my spotting buddy, so started to use the smith machine.

    I know alot of people are totally against using the smith machine, but ive started using it and dont find it too bad.

    Is it really bad using it, rather than using the normal bench without resistance???


    how's that?

  3. #3
    chuckt12345's Avatar
    chuckt12345 is offline Knowledgeable Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Houston
    Posts
    4,218
    wrong section

  4. #4
    bradhore's Avatar
    bradhore is offline Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    England - UK
    Posts
    684
    because a normal bench doesnt have resistance whereas a smith machine does.

  5. #5
    bradhore's Avatar
    bradhore is offline Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    England - UK
    Posts
    684
    Quote Originally Posted by chuckt12345 View Post
    wrong section
    Its just a question, and its in the questions section

  6. #6
    skeldno's Avatar
    skeldno is offline Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    uk
    Posts
    783
    its better then nothing mate if u have no spotter at the mo then stick to that.

  7. #7
    chuckt12345's Avatar
    chuckt12345 is offline Knowledgeable Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Houston
    Posts
    4,218
    this is AAS Q & A not workout Q & A

  8. #8
    bradhore's Avatar
    bradhore is offline Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    England - UK
    Posts
    684
    oh ..

  9. #9
    chuckt12345's Avatar
    chuckt12345 is offline Knowledgeable Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Houston
    Posts
    4,218
    but to answer your Q only thing i dont like about smith is it doesnt develop the muscles you need for balance when squating so when you move back over to free weight you may hurt yourself easier.

  10. #10
    bradhore's Avatar
    bradhore is offline Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    England - UK
    Posts
    684
    Quote Originally Posted by chuckt12345 View Post
    but to answer your Q only thing i dont like about smith is it doesnt develop the muscles you need for balance when squating so when you move back over to free weight you may hurt yourself easier.
    what about for chest?

  11. #11
    chuckt12345's Avatar
    chuckt12345 is offline Knowledgeable Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Houston
    Posts
    4,218
    oh i thought you were squating,, i use smith sometimes towards the end when i dont have much energy left,, more for burn outs

  12. #12
    Little Herc's Avatar
    Little Herc is offline Associate Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Never Never Land
    Posts
    326
    Nothing wrong with using the smith machine every once in awhile as it has different ways of hitting the muscles than normal but i wouldn't use it every time.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    rhode island USA
    Posts
    565
    its ok once and a while u will use more stabilizing muscles using the free weights

  14. #14
    DangerDave's Avatar
    DangerDave is offline Associate Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    SK
    Posts
    171
    Same thing happened to me, lost my spot and resorted to the smith for chest. really isolates the exact region of chest being targeted and I had great results. Especially my upper chest from incline bench.

    I have recently started gyming at home, no smith there, and have been forced to revert back to free weights. My stabalizers were rather useless and have still not regained their old strength, even though its been about a month.

    But my results were so good that I will continue using the smith when the opportunity arises, just not too long a period without doing some free weights in between

  15. #15
    skeldno's Avatar
    skeldno is offline Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    uk
    Posts
    783
    Like i said its better then nothing mate.

  16. #16
    ranging1 is offline Anabolic Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    australia, melbourne
    Posts
    2,426
    lol what u mean u lost ur spotting partner?

    who cares

    just ask a random in your gym to spot you, i always do, ive never had a partner so i just ask any guy to give me a spot

    long as you nice, just ask politely, its not that hard

  17. #17
    Okinawa_Power is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    1,100
    Quote Originally Posted by ranging1 View Post
    lol what u mean u lost ur spotting partner?

    who cares

    just ask a random in your gym to spot you, i always do, ive never had a partner so i just ask any guy to give me a spot

    long as you nice, just ask politely, its not that hard
    Ranging1 that is what I do....I'm like "You!!!! Spot me now"!!!!!!!!! LMFAO!!!! Just ask and you shall receive!!!! Don't use Smith for chest....Every two weeks for squats, but not for chest........

  18. #18
    ranging1 is offline Anabolic Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    australia, melbourne
    Posts
    2,426
    Quote Originally Posted by Okinawa_Power View Post
    Ranging1 that is what I do....I'm like "You!!!! Spot me now"!!!!!!!!! LMFAO!!!! Just ask and you shall receive!!!! Don't use Smith for chest....Every two weeks for squats, but not for chest........
    lmfao exactly

    their not going to say 'NO', most the time their half your size anyways so their like

    'yes sir' ahahahahahah

    then im like 'now bend over and ......' lol

  19. #19
    Okinawa_Power is offline Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Posts
    1,100
    Quote Originally Posted by ranging1 View Post
    lmfao exactly

    their not going to say 'no', most the time their half your size anyways so their like

    'yes sir' ahahahahahah

    then im like 'now bend over and ......' lol

    lmfao!!!!!!!!!!

  20. #20
    Ronnie Rowland's Avatar
    Ronnie Rowland is offline Author of Functional Training with a Fork
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Posts
    3,153
    Blog Entries
    1
    Quote Originally Posted by bradhore View Post
    Ive recently lost my spotting buddy, so started to use the smith machine.

    I know alot of people are totally against using the smith machine, but ive started using it and dont find it too bad.

    Is it really bad using it, rather than using the normal bench without resistance???
    Well, my wife uses the smith exclusively for squats and her legs are massive. My chest grows much better using a slight decline and incline on smith machines than standard flat presses and incline presses. Dorian Yates used the smith for squats and Jay Cutler uses it for decline presses. It's not what works for other's but what do you think is working best for you that matters in the end!For power-lifting the free weights are best because stabilizers need to be worked but with bodybuiling it's about isolating the muscles (not focusing on stabilizers) and the smith helps accomplish this feat for many.

    Here's a few pics of my wife's legs taken last year. They are quite a bit bigger now. I'll have to get some more pics of her soon!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Smith Machine or not??-cathyposing4.jpg   Smith Machine or not??-kathys-back.jpg   Smith Machine or not??-kathy_quads.jpg  

  21. #21
    thomaskstewart's Avatar
    thomaskstewart is offline Junior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    81
    I use the Power Rack with spot bars when I have too I like it that way anyways... I recently started doing my bench press beginning from the down position with my bar resting on the spot bars right on my chest... and wow what a difference that was... I do them slow like 4 sec up 6 down and I hold the bar hovering above the spot bars for 2 sec before I repeat... then on my last rep I work it all the way down trying for 15 secs

    I got mad pump out of it from all the squeezing and slow movement... had to drop my weight considerably though... but worth it I think

  22. #22
    Bossman's Avatar
    Bossman is offline Bossman - AR Monitor
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    3,400
    I only use it now for seated presses. If we had a decent rack I would use that but my gym doesn't. I do some seated DB presses but only if Im pre exhausted. I can't get the weight into position otherwise without spotters.

    If it works for you and you feel you're getting something out of it, go for it!

  23. #23
    Valac's Avatar
    Valac is offline Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    AUSTRALIA FTW!
    Posts
    604
    just ask a random in your gym to spot you, i always do, ive never had a partner so i just ask any guy to give me a spot
    pffft, fuk that i hate talking to people at the gym, i swear some of em think its i social center or somethin.
    alot of the guys dont spot properly anyway so its just a waste of time askin em

  24. #24
    Juice_E's Avatar
    Juice_E is offline Junior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    61
    Quote Originally Posted by Valac View Post
    pffft, fuk that i hate talking to people at the gym, i swear some of em think its i social center or somethin.
    alot of the guys dont spot properly anyway so its just a waste of time askin em
    haha... i hit 4 different exercises today while these 2 guys were talking

  25. #25
    Kibble is offline Anabolic Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    3,063
    I use the smith machine a lot. I use it for:

    Bent Over Rows (Every other week)
    BB Shoulder Press (Every other week)
    Squat (Every 3 weeks)
    Upright Rows (Every other week)
    BB Shrugs (Every other week)

    I like the Smith Machine because I believe it is a great alternative when most gym equipment is being used. I do these exercises every other week to try and mix things up. The only exercises that I will NEVER do with the Smith are Benchpress and Deadlift (I have seen it done).

  26. #26
    ranging1 is offline Anabolic Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    australia, melbourne
    Posts
    2,426
    Quote Originally Posted by Valac View Post
    pffft, fuk that i hate talking to people at the gym, i swear some of em think its i social center or somethin.
    alot of the guys dont spot properly anyway so its just a waste of time askin em
    lol well arent u stuck up hehehehe

    try finding someone who looks like a good spotter, i usually pick the youngest kid coz i know if he trys to help me he will give just the right amount of help

    and usually if they help to much i yell at them n tell them 'LEAVE IT"

  27. #27
    boz's Avatar
    boz
    boz is offline R.I.P. T-Gunz Gone but, Never Forgotten.
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Downunder
    Posts
    2,125
    Quote Originally Posted by ranging1 View Post
    lol what u mean u lost ur spotting partner?

    who cares

    just ask a random in your gym to spot you, i always do, ive never had a partner so i just ask any guy to give me a spot

    long as you nice, just ask politely, its not that hard
    But ranging a guy's time at the gym cant revolve around spotting you all the time. He has things to do to yeah ?

  28. #28
    boz's Avatar
    boz
    boz is offline R.I.P. T-Gunz Gone but, Never Forgotten.
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Downunder
    Posts
    2,125
    Also just out of interest let get this straight, use a smith or don't use (squats or for chest)?

  29. #29
    ranging1 is offline Anabolic Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    australia, melbourne
    Posts
    2,426
    Quote Originally Posted by boz88 View Post
    But ranging a guy's time at the gym cant revolve around spotting you all the time. He has things to do to yeah ?
    lol its understandble you need him to spot ya when u have 160kg on the bench

  30. #30
    boz's Avatar
    boz
    boz is offline R.I.P. T-Gunz Gone but, Never Forgotten.
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Downunder
    Posts
    2,125
    yeah but i always thought u were the hulk, uve let me down mate, not happy!

  31. #31
    thomaskstewart's Avatar
    thomaskstewart is offline Junior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    81
    Quote Originally Posted by BigKuntry1984 View Post
    The only exercises that I will NEVER do with the Smith are Benchpress and Deadlift (I have seen it done).
    Yeah, I tried playing around with the Smith Machine with a few exercises and I have to agree with you on Bench... You just can't beat the balance and control required to hold a heavy *** BB over your head for a good chest pump... besides everyone seems to have problems with getting a pump in their chest why make it even harder...

    Deadlifts... that's just retarded...

    One thing I used to do was Straight Legged Deadlifts on the Smith Machine because I didn't want to lower the weight much more than just below my knees because of back problems. With the Smith Machine I got better control and could set the spot markers where I wanted to stop... but after my back got stronger... screw that... hahaha... I don't even do Straight Legs any more anyways, but its a great way to build up a week lower back...

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •