Thread: Smith benching vs. free-weight benching

nothing like squating with the smith machine.. 4 plates on either side w/ a 2" ROM to isolate the "tear drops" in my quads....

doesn't tooo much smith machine use lead to repetive strain, since it restricts any natural movement in the exercise, like it can only give up and down, theres not give, i'd say free weights is probly a better weigh to go unless training round an injury

Originally Posted by Captn'stabbin

the smith has it's uses.

Agreed. It can be a great tool to help other aspects of your lifting if you use it as a tool and not a crutch.

If you have low back issues, for example, it can allow you to still squat heavy while taking some stress off of your lower back. If the hack machine is tied up you can use the Smith machine and keep your feet in front of you to mimic the hack squat.

It has allowed me to increase my own squat totals by allowing me to concentrate on negatives, helping me with quad isolation. Also, when I'm in the power/squat rack, I can go heavier and set new personal maxes.

Originally Posted by chesty4

Agreed. It can be a great tool to help other aspects of your lifting if you use it as a tool and not a crutch.

If you have low back issues, for example, it can allow you to still squat heavy while taking some stress off of your lower back. If the hack machine is tied up you can use the Smith machine and keep your feet in front of you to mimic the hack squat.

It has allowed me to increase my own squat totals by allowing me to concentrate on negatives, helping me with quad isolation. Also, when I'm in the power/squat rack, I can go heavier and set new personal maxes.

How does a smith machine "isolate" your quads? It's still the same compound movement, only no balancing involved.

Smith machine makes squatting easier. I don't consider them to be squats; they're "smith machine squats".

I use both the smith and the free weight bench. Whats important is that a person gets of his ass and lift weights!