Smith machine - no choice - UK-Muscle Body Building Community

jago25_98 · 20-05-2004, 03:11 PM

We only got a smith machine at our gym, no free standing long barbells, just the little ones.

In fact I've never seen a free barbell at any of the 3 gyms I've been at.

I've been trying to do Squats, DeadLifts and Good Mornings with the Smith machine instead.

- is this likely to screw my back? (especially the deadlifts)
- how much worse is it then a free barbell?
- ways to improve?

I'm using a belt at the moment because I've got a dodgy back. Should I drop this to improve stability or is that too much of a risk. I try to do a few light reps without it nevertheless.

Also, I train alone mostly for convience.

**Aftershock** · 20-05-2004, 03:25 PM

Trouble with a smith machine is that its an artificial range of motion...

Any gym worth its salt will have a powerack equiped with an olympic bar... my advice is change gyms... sounds like a poncy cardio gym to me..

Oh and no i wouldn't drop the belt.

Greyphantom · 20-05-2004, 04:17 PM

I am going to disagree with Aftershock slightly here (sorry)... firstly the smith machine doesnt give an artificial range of motion but only gives you one choice in the angle of range of motion... ie straight up and straight down... there fore the surrounding supportive muscles dont get the same work as if it was done with a free weight barbell... which is much better (the free weight)...

also I am not a big fan of belts... they offer great support if you need it but then the muscles arent being worked to thier full potential as the learn to rely on the belts support... there fore become less strong and underdeveloped... if you can and your back is up to it try it without the belt and work till your back starts to feel it then perhaps put it on.. get those muscles strong and use them to support your frame... I dont use a belt for any exercise anymore... used to on squats but then stopped for a while as I was using lighter weights and then when I noticed I was back on 160kg I tried to do them with the belt... no good... didnt feel right and my body now holds me nice and in form...

Panthro · 20-05-2004, 04:22 PM

i hate smiths. I certainly wouldnt deadlift with them... and i cant imagine how you can do good mornings on them?

If you really have no other option, front squats are do-able on them, as is benching of some description.. but personally, id go to another gym!

Re belts.. people rely on them far to much.. eg seeing people doing bicep curls etc in them! lol.. They are important for squats and d/l IMO but only once you get the weight up.. working without a belt will strengthen your lower back. But heavy weeights i always use a belt. I go up to 160-180 on sq/dl before using a belt now..

winger · 20-05-2004, 05:02 PM

I dont use a smith machine eather. Heavy shrugs though its kinda nice for. Oh and they make a great towel holder (Panthro

). Like Panthro said about the belt. I dont use one at all but for the last set going up in weight for squats and dl I would use one. I think the belt is more for the stomach if you ask me. Unless your form is real bad.
If that is all I had access to then I could use a smith machine but only as a last resort like on vacation or somthing.

powerU · 20-05-2004, 05:28 PM

i think a heavy deadlift on a smith machine would be nearly impossible????????

smash it up and take the bar out

Panthro · 20-05-2004, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerU

smash it up and take the bar out

Thats the most sensible idea ive heard all week!! lol, excellent!

**hackskii** · 20-05-2004, 05:48 PM

If it is all you got then it is all you got.
Options?
1. change gyms. If this is not an option
2. go lighter in the deadlifts on the smith.

winger · 21-05-2004, 01:29 AM

I say take Mr. Smith to a bar and smash it up.

damagedgoods · 21-05-2004, 09:25 AM

I use a smith machine quite a bit - as often I can nly train by myself.

I use it all the time for behind the neck presses - regradless. Squatting is fine with it as if bench press - but u do recruit more muscle fibres when using a free bar. I couldn't deadlift with it though....

BigGiver · 01-06-2004, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panthro

i hate smiths. I certainly wouldnt deadlift with them... and i cant imagine how you can do good mornings on them?

If you really have no other option, front squats are do-able on them, as is benching of some description.. but personally, id go to another gym!

Re belts.. people rely on them far to much.. eg seeing people doing bicep curls etc in them! lol.. They are important for squats and d/l IMO but only once you get the weight up.. working without a belt will strengthen your lower back. But heavy weeights i always use a belt. I go up to 160-180 on sq/dl before using a belt now..

i agree with Panthro.. only thing smith is good for is if your injuried and tryign to prevent further injury .. free weights all the way!

winger · 02-06-2004, 02:53 AM

Well if I went to a gym and all they had was a smith machine I could get big but you have to be creative.

:p

OnePack · 02-06-2004, 04:35 AM

if there are no long barbells then how about using big dumdbells instead.

Jock · 02-06-2004, 12:11 PM

As Panthro said find another gym!

**hackskii** · 02-06-2004, 01:41 PM

Dumbbells are fine.

20-05-2004, 03:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
jago25_98 Gym Addict Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 105	Smith machine - no choice We only got a smith machine at our gym, no free standing long barbells, just the little ones. In fact I've never seen a free barbell at any of the 3 gyms I've been at. I've been trying to do Squats, DeadLifts and Good Mornings with the Smith machine instead. - is this likely to screw my back? (especially the deadlifts) - how much worse is it then a free barbell? - ways to improve? I'm using a belt at the moment because I've got a dodgy back. Should I drop this to improve stability or is that too much of a risk. I try to do a few light reps without it nevertheless. Also, I train alone mostly for convience.

20-05-2004, 03:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
Aftershock UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,029	Trouble with a smith machine is that its an artificial range of motion... Any gym worth its salt will have a powerack equiped with an olympic bar... my advice is change gyms... sounds like a poncy cardio gym to me.. Oh and no i wouldn't drop the belt. __________________ "You are what you eat you can't possibly be anything else" or put another way "eat sht look like sht!!" Aftershock

20-05-2004, 04:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Greyphantom Getting HUGE! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: London Posts: 1,869	I am going to disagree with Aftershock slightly here (sorry)... firstly the smith machine doesnt give an artificial range of motion but only gives you one choice in the angle of range of motion... ie straight up and straight down... there fore the surrounding supportive muscles dont get the same work as if it was done with a free weight barbell... which is much better (the free weight)... also I am not a big fan of belts... they offer great support if you need it but then the muscles arent being worked to thier full potential as the learn to rely on the belts support... there fore become less strong and underdeveloped... if you can and your back is up to it try it without the belt and work till your back starts to feel it then perhaps put it on.. get those muscles strong and use them to support your frame... I dont use a belt for any exercise anymore... used to on squats but then stopped for a while as I was using lighter weights and then when I noticed I was back on 160kg I tried to do them with the belt... no good... didnt feel right and my body now holds me nice and in form... __________________ Greyphantom The Ghost who Grows!!!

20-05-2004, 04:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
Panthro Getting HUGE! Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,509	i hate smiths. I certainly wouldnt deadlift with them... and i cant imagine how you can do good mornings on them? If you really have no other option, front squats are do-able on them, as is benching of some description.. but personally, id go to another gym! Re belts.. people rely on them far to much.. eg seeing people doing bicep curls etc in them! lol.. They are important for squats and d/l IMO but only once you get the weight up.. working without a belt will strengthen your lower back. But heavy weeights i always use a belt. I go up to 160-180 on sq/dl before using a belt now.. __________________ "looking at picutres of half naked men dont get you strong. Lets get down to business and go to the gym" - Svend Karlson. 'Viking Power'

20-05-2004, 05:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
winger UK-Muscle Male Animal Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Southern California, USA Posts: 10,328 Blog Entries: 1	I dont use a smith machine eather. Heavy shrugs though its kinda nice for. Oh and they make a great towel holder (Panthro ). Like Panthro said about the belt. I dont use one at all but for the last set going up in weight for squats and dl I would use one. I think the belt is more for the stomach if you ask me. Unless your form is real bad. If that is all I had access to then I could use a smith machine but only as a last resort like on vacation or somthing. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

20-05-2004, 05:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
powerU Getting HUGE! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 1,141	i think a heavy deadlift on a smith machine would be nearly impossible???????? smash it up and take the bar out

20-05-2004, 05:48 PM	#8 (permalink)
hackskii UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Southern California U.S.A. Posts: 23,694	If it is all you got then it is all you got. Options? 1. change gyms. If this is not an option 2. go lighter in the deadlifts on the smith. __________________ "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." - George Carlin Scott To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

21-05-2004, 01:29 AM	#9 (permalink)
winger UK-Muscle Male Animal Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Southern California, USA Posts: 10,328 Blog Entries: 1	I say take Mr. Smith to a bar and smash it up. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

21-05-2004, 09:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
damagedgoods Looking Freaky Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wisbech Posts: 763	I use a smith machine quite a bit - as often I can nly train by myself. I use it all the time for behind the neck presses - regradless. Squatting is fine with it as if bench press - but u do recruit more muscle fibres when using a free bar. I couldn't deadlift with it though....

02-06-2004, 02:53 AM	#12 (permalink)
winger UK-Muscle Male Animal Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Southern California, USA Posts: 10,328 Blog Entries: 1	Well if I went to a gym and all they had was a smith machine I could get big but you have to be creative. :p __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-06-2004, 04:35 AM	#13 (permalink)
OnePack UK-M's Mascot Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Staffordshire Posts: 1,502	if there are no long barbells then how about using big dumdbells instead. __________________ Thank you.

02-06-2004, 12:11 PM	#14 (permalink)
Jock LEAGUE LEGEND! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: UK Posts: 3,069	As Panthro said find another gym! __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-06-2004, 01:41 PM	#15 (permalink)
hackskii UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Southern California U.S.A. Posts: 23,694	Dumbbells are fine. __________________ "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." - George Carlin Scott To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.