Smith Machine.....

[Merkaba]

Consider me old school but I have avoided the smith machine up until this last week...and I have no idea why! I love this thing, but I have to ask- does anyone know how much weight it "takes off" the lift? I can lift considerably more, especially my inclined bench on the smith, then just normal inclined bp.

Typical. It's an ego thing. Sorry I come from a background of studying right and left brain tendencies.

Your ego side of the brain is concerned about numbers, instead of safety or efficiency. So you're asking about how much weight it "takes off" or that you can move and not about more important concerns. So what you can push up 300 lbs but say it was really 275? Why would you want to do this or train in a manner where you HAD to do this in order to track potential progress? Then one day you're going to do what, switch to a real exercise and realize you didn't really make that much of a gain because you weren't training in the proper way?

It might sound like I'm attacking but I'm not. It's just why I don't advise you to use it. Its like running 2 miles a day on the treadmill then switching to real running. It's just not the same and you're not doing the same work, so why do it. Sure you can use the smith for anything you like, but it's not as safe or optimal as would be other wise so why do it? I don't understand the concept realy of using machines unless you're rehabbing and then minimal.

And yes furthermore, name one set of muscles that can move a joint along a linear 2 dimensional path. Every movement is an arc along multiple axes.

 

[OTG85]

Typical. It's an ego thing. Sorry I come from a background of studying right and left brain tendencies.

Your ego side of the brain is concerned about numbers, instead of safety or efficiency. So you're asking about how much weight it "takes off" or that you can move and not about more important concerns. So what you can push up 300 lbs but say it was really 275? Why would you want to do this or train in a manner where you HAD to do this in order to track potential progress? Then one day you're going to do what, switch to a real exercise and realize you didn't really make that much of a gain because you weren't training in the proper way?

It might sound like I'm attacking but I'm not. It's just why I don't advise you to use it. Its like running 2 miles a day on the treadmill then switching to real running. It's just not the same and you're not doing the same work, so why do it. Sure you can use the smith for anything you like, but it's not as safe or optimal as would be other wise so why do it? I don't understand the concept realy of using machines unless you're rehabbing and then minimal.

And yes furthermore, name one set of muscles that can move a joint along a linear 2 dimensional path. Every movement is an arc along multiple axes.

you right about running on a treadmill for a while then trying to switch to running outside.I thaught I was a cardio monster on the treadmill then when I made the switch I broke down 1/2 the time outside.

 

[200+]

Typical. It's an ego thing. Sorry I come from a background of studying right and left brain tendencies.

Your ego side of the brain is concerned about numbers, instead of safety or efficiency. So you're asking about how much weight it "takes off" or that you can move and not about more important concerns. So what you can push up 300 lbs but say it was really 275? Why would you want to do this or train in a manner where you HAD to do this in order to track potential progress? Then one day you're going to do what, switch to a real exercise and realize you didn't really make that much of a gain because you weren't training in the proper way?

It might sound like I'm attacking but I'm not. It's just why I don't advise you to use it. Its like running 2 miles a day on the treadmill then switching to real running. It's just not the same and you're not doing the same work, so why do it. Sure you can use the smith for anything you like, but it's not as safe or optimal as would be other wise so why do it? I don't understand the concept really of using machines unless you're rehabbing and then minimal.

And yes furthermore, name one set of muscles that can move a joint along a linear 2 dimensional path. Every movement is an arc along multiple axes.

Well stated! I was very concerned about the numbers for a long time until I saw the light and stopped paying attention to how much it really was. It's all relative anyway. It's amazing how when you focus on form and delivery, the strength and size come with it.

Besides, I love it when the guy next to me feels the need to throw around a bunch of weight, then I grab much less and do it with perfect form. The funny thing is that I am usually bigger then those guys

 

[bigsalad22]

i understand everyone here saying the smith machine is for pussies and blah blah blah....that's cool. everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but really....the smith machine is just another machine. sure, if you use it to replace free weight movements in your workouts...its going to hurt your progress, but as for it being totally worthless....i don't agree. its just like any other machine in terms of limiting you to a fixed pattern motion. does that mean we should never ever use any machines? no, thats ridiculous. machines have their place in bodybuilding too. they just should not be your focus, but they still have their place.
meerkaba...i totally hear what your saying, but don't you think that using a hammer strength machine at the end of a chest workout can be benificial? after your delts and chest are almost completely trashed...
i've had a lot of success for a lot of years by using machines in my workouts. free weights will always be my focus, but i will almost alway incorpirate at least one machine in each workout.

 

[Merkaba]

i understand everyone here saying the smith machine is for pussies and blah blah blah....that's cool. everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but really....the smith machine is just another machine. sure, if you use it to replace free weight movements in your workouts...its going to hurt your progress, but as for it being totally worthless....i don't agree. its just like any other machine in terms of limiting you to a fixed pattern motion. does that mean we should never ever use any machines? no, thats ridiculous. machines have their place in bodybuilding too. they just should not be your focus, but they still have their place.
meerkaba...i totally hear what your saying, but don't you think that using a hammer strength machine at the end of a chest workout can be benificial? after your delts and chest are almost completely trashed...
i've had a lot of success for a lot of years by using machines in my workouts. free weights will always be my focus, but i will almost alway incorpirate at least one machine in each workout.

Who said the smith was for pussies?

And why would you want to trash a muscle group?

 

[bigsalad22]

Who said the smith was for pussies?

And why would you want to trash a muscle group?

maybe your taking the word "trashed" a little too literaly.
how about "exhausted to the point where its not safe to go heavy with a free weight movement"
as for who said the smith machine was for pussies....take a look at the rest of the thread. that part was not directed at you.

 

[gtbmed]

If your supporting muscles are so exhausted that it's not safe to go heavy with a free weight movement, why not just go light and up the volume or something? Seems like the reason your supporting muscles would be that exhausted in the first place is from doing a heavy free weight movement.

I've always liked a "less is more" approach to training, but I'm not a competitive bodybuilder either. Still, I think if you've done a heavy compound exercise and exhausted yourself to the point that you don't think it's safe to continue more heavy free weight exercises, you've done enough to stimulate growth.

 

[Merkaba]

If your supporting muscles are so exhausted that it's not safe to go heavy with a free weight movement, why not just go light and up the volume or something? Seems like the reason your supporting muscles would be that exhausted in the first place is from doing a heavy free weight movement.

I've always liked a "less is more" approach to training, but I'm not a competitive bodybuilder either. Still, I think if you've done a heavy compound exercise and exhausted yourself to the point that you don't think it's safe to continue more heavy free weight exercises, you've done enough to stimulate growth.

I agree. Lighten the weight. Guys need to keep the weight as high as possible though. We're guys right?

If its not safe to do free weights it would be unsafe to use a machine in my opinion. that's my opinion.

Don't get me wrong I use machines. I mean I do lat pulls, rows, various cable deals etc.

 

[christo67]

many things i have been seeing the bar is only 15 pounds,,I like the smith also especially for presses

 

[christo67]

wow. your math is impressive,,I like smith machines,,,,and Im a health science major who is 44 and lifting since I was 13

 

[Merkaba]

Smith Machine sucks...next question....

 

[pjreiff]

Interesting information on Smith versus free weight. I've been using the Smith for decline presses over the last 8 weeks to train around an injury. Plan to be back on free weight bench presses within the next couple weeks so will be interested to see if I've lost/gained anything on my bench. Also been using the Smith for hack squats since my gym doesn't have a hack squat machine.