Military press - with a bar or on the Smith machine?

mrmark · 11-20-2006, 12:12 PM

For my shoulder work out which begins with military press, what do you guys think is best?

Standing military press with a bar or seated military press on a smith machine?

It is often said free weights are better but I wonder if the smith machine allows extra control over the weight.

Many thanks for any help.

**P-funk** · 11-20-2006, 12:16 PM

anything but the smith machine. there is no way to press in the proper line on a smith machine. The bar needs to move around the head and then over the head during lockout. This is more of a surve than a straight line. This doesn't happen on a shit machine.

**Gazhole** · 11-20-2006, 01:25 PM

Barbell or Dumbells. Never the "shit machine" as P put it

Witchblade · 11-20-2006, 04:52 PM

Rule #7: Never, ever, use the smith machine.

DiGiTaL · 11-20-2006, 05:10 PM

I love how everyone uses the smith machines and no one uses the bench press ever in my gym (Except me that is)

Double D · 11-20-2006, 05:18 PM

Absolutly hate the smith machine. I have one at home and it sits in the corner and hasnt been used since I got it a few years ago. It was a gift from my mom. Nice of her, but for the same amount of money I couldve gotten a squat rack.

Seanp156 · 11-20-2006, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiGiTaL

I love how everyone uses the smith machines and no one uses the bench press ever in my gym (Except me that is)

Where I work, this is often the case... I see some people doing quarter squats in the smith machine... I've learned to just ignore it anymore...

katt · 11-20-2006, 05:35 PM

I only use the smith machine for ATG squats - just cause I can't seem to balance the darn bar on my shoulders

Nate K · 11-20-2006, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katt

I only use the smith machine for ATG squats - just cause I can't seem to balance the darn bar on my shoulders

You can do ieeet!

vortrit · 11-20-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katt

I only use the smith machine for ATG squats - just cause I can't seem to balance the darn bar on my shoulders

Have you tried on of those shoulder pads? I think, it's called a manta ray pad. Very comfortable and easier to balance a barbell.

KentDog · 11-20-2006, 08:03 PM

I prefer dumbbells.

katt - try to get someone to help you out with your form, freeweight squats are so different than SM squats.

**P-funk** · 11-20-2006, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katt

I only use the smith machine for ATG squats - just cause I can't seem to balance the darn bar on my shoulders

are you trying to set it high bar or low bar?

**DOMS** · 11-20-2006, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-funk

are you trying to set it high bar or low bar?

Maybe he's leaning forward or backward too much? Flexibility issues, perhaps?

**P-funk** · 11-20-2006, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DOMS

Maybe he's leaning forward or backward too much? Flexibility issues, perhaps?

lol....Katt is not a 'he'!!

**DOMS** · 11-20-2006, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-funk

lol....Katt is not a 'he'!!

Doeth!

I saw that mark was the thread started and I assumed...

ALBOB · 11-21-2006, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katt

I only use the smith machine for ATG squats - just cause I can't seem to balance the darn bar on my shoulders

Have you ever tried front squats. They take a bit of getting used to, but having the bar on the front of your shoulders helps a great deal with balance. I found that once I perfected my form on fronts I did much better on back squats too.

Back on topic: I'm gonna throw out a double no-no. I occasionally use the Smith Machine to do behind the neck military presses. By using the macine I don't have to worry about my shoulder joint hyper-extending in the rearward direction. I find it's a great change up to my normal routine, but I use it very sparingly.

**CowPimp** · 11-21-2006, 12:56 PM

I prefer not to use the smith machine at all. I don't particularly like machines period, but they have their place in bodybuilding programs. If you are going to use a machine, then you might as well use those which are designed specifically for the exercise you plan on doing so there is some semblance of a natural line of action.

rahaas · 11-21-2006, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Witchblade

Rule #7: Never, ever, use the smith machine.

vortrit · 11-21-2006, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rahaas

I don't agree. Yes, go for the free weights first. But if I were in a situation were all I had to work on was the smith-machine it would be okay once in awhile. I'm not saying it would be okay everytime, but once in awhile is fine.

I was at the gym last week and this guy ranted on and on and on about how great the smith machine was for shoulder press because it was better on your rotor cuffs. Funny thing is, I've noticed my shoulders popping a lot less (actually never at all) since using free weights. So, yeah free weights are the way to go, but smith machine once in awhile, I think, if fine. I actually had to do shoulder press once last week on the smith because nothing else was available and I was in a rush.

So I agree, but I'd rather use the smith than skip something altogether...

rahaas · 11-22-2006, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vortrit

So I agree, but I'd rather use the smith than skip something altogether...

The reason I agreed was that I've only had a sore lower back and shoulder joints from using that machine. IMO the purpose of using a machine is to insure perfect form which that one fails at.
If I was forced to use it for whatever reason, I'm going to another gym or workout at home rather than risk getting hurt.

vortrit · 11-22-2006, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rahaas

The reason I agreed was that I've only had a sore lower back and shoulder joints from using that machine. IMO the purpose of using a machine is to insure perfect form which that one fails at.
If I was forced to use it for whatever reason, I'm going to another gym or workout at home rather than risk getting hurt.

As I said I noticed my shoulder popping problem went away since getting away from it. However, it don't seem to bother me to use once in awhile, not all the time. I personally have not noticed pain from using it the one time in the past few months. In a rare event I will use it.

But personally I'd rather see your attitude about it than a lot of the people around here. There are a lot who think it's the greatest. This one guy from the gym is always doing close grip bench on it. I told him I never use it for tri work, and the dumbass told me my arms look like sticks. My arms are probably an inch smaller than his, not to mention the fact I've been growing like a week the past six months, and I also don't have his beer belly... etc.

The only thing I've used it for on a regular basis is standing calf raise. If anyone can point out how that would be bad, I'd be glad to find another way to work my calves...

vortrit · 11-22-2006, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowPimp

I prefer not to use the smith machine at all. I don't particularly like machines period, but they have their place in bodybuilding programs. If you are going to use a machine, then you might as well use those which are designed specifically for the exercise you plan on doing so there is some semblance of a natural line of action.

Are your feelings the same for an ab machine? I ask because I've noticed a lot of BB's claim to hate machines, but still seem to like the ab machines. It's the only machine I am still using on a regular basis. Except for leg stuff, of course.

**P-funk** · 11-22-2006, 07:27 AM

this was just covered in another thread.

The idea of an ab machine is the silliest thing I have ever heard. Just think about it....the muscles that provide the stability to your body are now asked to not work in that fashion at all......doesn't that seem stupid....I mean really. just think about it.

**CowPimp** · 11-22-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vortrit

Are your feelings the same for an ab machine? I ask because I've noticed a lot of BB's claim to hate machines, but still seem to like the ab machines. It's the only machine I am still using on a regular basis. Except for leg stuff, of course.

Nope, don't use that either. The closest I get to a machine is cable equipment.

I have never used machines regularly. The leg press a little sporadically, and some lower body machine work when I was coming back from a shoulder injury. I never liked them. They always felt akward to me. I benched on a smith machine one time, and that was it. I was 13-14, and I didn't know shit, but I knew it felt unnatural.

**P-funk** · 11-22-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowPimp

Nope, don't use that either. The closest I get to a machine is cable equipment.

I have never used machines regularly. The leg press a little sporadically, and some lower body machine work when I was coming back from a shoulder injury. I never liked them. They always felt akward to me. I benched on a smith machine one time, and that was it. I was 13-14, and I didn't know shit, but I knew it felt unnatural.

I don't consider cable equpitment a machine though becasue it allows for joint stability and moves in all three planes.

11-20-2006, 12:12 PM	#1
mrmark Londoner Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: London Posts: 999 Photos: 1	Military press - with a bar or on the Smith machine? BODYBUILDING SUPPLEMENTS High Quality Supplements For Bodybuilders and Athletes. www.ironmaglabs.com For my shoulder work out which begins with military press, what do you guys think is best? Standing military press with a bar or seated military press on a smith machine? It is often said free weights are better but I wonder if the smith machine allows extra control over the weight. Many thanks for any help.
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11-20-2006, 12:16 PM	#2
P-funk Patrick Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 30,230	anything but the smith machine. there is no way to press in the proper line on a smith machine. The bar needs to move around the head and then over the head during lockout. This is more of a surve than a straight line. This doesn't happen on a shit machine.
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11-20-2006, 04:52 PM	#4
Witchblade Succinct Elite Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Holland Posts: 4,148 Photos: 2	Rule #7: Never, ever, use the smith machine.
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11-20-2006, 05:10 PM	#5
DiGiTaL °‹‡›“ Legend ”‹‡›° Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Canada - AB Posts: 747	I love how everyone uses the smith machines and no one uses the bench press ever in my gym (Except me that is)
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11-20-2006, 05:18 PM	#6
Double D Senior Member Elite Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 9,867	Absolutly hate the smith machine. I have one at home and it sits in the corner and hasnt been used since I got it a few years ago. It was a gift from my mom. Nice of her, but for the same amount of money I couldve gotten a squat rack.
	www.crossfit.com

11-20-2006, 05:35 PM	#8
katt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 4,026 Photos: 37	I only use the smith machine for ATG squats - just cause I can't seem to balance the darn bar on my shoulders

11-20-2006, 08:03 PM	#11
KentDog College Grad Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,691 Photos: 3	I prefer dumbbells. katt - try to get someone to help you out with your form, freeweight squats are so different than SM squats.

11-21-2006, 12:56 PM	#17
CowPimp Fueled by Testosterone Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 15,400	I prefer not to use the smith machine at all. I don't particularly like machines period, but they have their place in bodybuilding programs. If you are going to use a machine, then you might as well use those which are designed specifically for the exercise you plan on doing so there is some semblance of a natural line of action.
	The only time it's bad to feel the burn is when you're peeing... CowPimp Picks Up Heavy Shit MySpace YouTube Videos

11-22-2006, 07:27 AM	#23
P-funk Patrick Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 30,230	this was just covered in another thread. The idea of an ab machine is the silliest thing I have ever heard. Just think about it....the muscles that provide the stability to your body are now asked to not work in that fashion at all......doesn't that seem stupid....I mean really. just think about it.
	http://pwtraining.blogspot.com/.....come and see what is on my mind! http://ivonneberkowitz.blogspot.com/....check out Ivonne's new blog! Optimum Sports Performance "In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the experts there are few." -Buddha's Little Instruction Book