Smith Machine Vs Olympic Bar - UK-Muscle Body Building Community

Paul Jones · 02-08-2005, 10:57 PM

Hello All

I can bench 200kg on an olympic bar could i acheive much more using the smith machine because of the ease of use compared to the bar.

If so how much would the gain be

The reason why i'm asking this is because a few friends have pushed heavyer weights on a smith machine but when we are all down the gym together the cant do no where near on the olympic bar.

Are they full of S*** or is there a differance. If so is there a comparison chart as such to calculate it by.

DB · 02-08-2005, 11:03 PM

mate u can bench 200 kg and ur asking us advice on benching??

u sure ur talking in kg not lbs??

how long u been training? what are ur stats?

Paul Jones · 02-08-2005, 11:14 PM

300kg squat for 1

340Kg dead lift for 1

400Kg Bench Press for 1 ( Multi gym )

I have been training 24 years the above are personal bests however i only train every other day to give body time to recover etc.

The question i asked early on is mainly because my mates recon they can push lift bla bla heavyer weights using the smith machine.But when they come to do simillar using the olympic bar they cant do it.Is there a scientific reason for this or what. As my theory is you can either do it or you cant.

samurai69 · 03-08-2005, 07:27 AM

Thats some serious lifting

Personaly I would avoid the smith machine, though you would probably be able to lift more on it as it takes away the balance part of the exercise, that you get using the oly bar

**big** · 03-08-2005, 09:34 AM

Is this serious? You have an 1850lb powerlifting total, and you're asking if you should use the smith machine???

Yes, your friends telling you to use the smith machine are full of sh1t.

What are your stats dude?

Nev · 03-08-2005, 09:34 AM

wow! 200, i cant even bench half that :confused: , can we c some photos of you ?

verve · 04-08-2005, 12:34 AM

Serious lifting mate, congrats. What like to see your stats as well. Why is this in the articles section BTW? Agree with what everyone else says, not a fan of the smith machine, can cause joint problems etc.

**big** · 04-08-2005, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vervefan

Serious lifting mate, congrats. What like to see your stats as well. Why is this in the articles section BTW? Agree with what everyone else says, not a fan of the smith machine, can cause joint problems etc.

Good catch, thanks. I've moved it.

crazycacti · 04-08-2005, 09:15 AM

impressive lifts!

To bring up what has already been said before:

'...the smith machines only use is as a towel rack...'

**big pete** · 04-08-2005, 02:42 PM

good lifts, same total score as myself.

smith machine?? no use whatsoever. wouldnt even hang my towels on it!

Harry · 04-08-2005, 04:17 PM

The reason why they can lift more on the Smith machine is because it is counter balanced, so basically you haven't the weight of the bar 20kgs, so in theory you should be able to lift 20kgs heavier on the Smith Machine than on the Olympic Bar.

You also are using less muscle's to do this as your balancing muscles don't come into play so using less energy.

**hackskii** · 06-08-2005, 07:12 PM

The only thing I use smith machine for is shrugs.

Other than that, I would not use that for any compound exercise.

Nev · 06-08-2005, 08:22 PM

i must admit i use the smith machine alot , and totaly agree that i could bench more on that ,than on a bar . makes me look better in the gym tho heavier weights

. so the basics of this thread is dont use it , i will recive better benefits and strenght gain from using the bar .

**hackskii** · 07-08-2005, 04:00 AM

But, if that is all you have then no probs at all.
You have to do what you have to do.

I do use it for shrugs and sometimes upright rows if someone else is using the oly bar's.

fits · 15-08-2005, 04:17 PM

i have recently, well for a couple of months been training in a gym. always trainned at home before that so all the machines are great new toys to me. Been using the smith machine for bench as its a safe way to push heavy as i would like to get my bench up to some thing half respectable!!

done 3 sets then went over to do some inclined dumbell presses today, now i know my tri's were already a bit knackered but i just picked up some 50lbs DB to start, and i struggled to do 5 reps lol now my tri's let me down but i was wobbeling all over the place!!!

before i come to india i was doing DB press as my main press, and i can seen now the benifits of stabalizing muscles!! DB or Bar should definately be the main exercize used IMO

02-08-2005, 10:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Paul Jones Newbie Trainer Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4	Smith Machine Vs Olympic Bar Hello All I can bench 200kg on an olympic bar could i acheive much more using the smith machine because of the ease of use compared to the bar. If so how much would the gain be The reason why i'm asking this is because a few friends have pushed heavyer weights on a smith machine but when we are all down the gym together the cant do no where near on the olympic bar. Are they full of S*** or is there a differance. If so is there a comparison chart as such to calculate it by.

02-08-2005, 11:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
DB UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: SW London Posts: 11,441	mate u can bench 200 kg and ur asking us advice on benching?? u sure ur talking in kg not lbs?? how long u been training? what are ur stats? __________________ DB 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. often imitated never duplicated To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. DB sleeps with a night light. Not because DB is afraid of the dark, but the dark is afraid of DB. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-08-2005, 09:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
big UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The only side effect of steroids is GREATNESS Posts: 5,453	Is this serious? You have an 1850lb powerlifting total, and you're asking if you should use the smith machine??? Yes, your friends telling you to use the smith machine are full of sh1t. What are your stats dude? __________________ 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.

04-08-2005, 12:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
verve 666 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: At work, probably. Posts: 674	Serious lifting mate, congrats. What like to see your stats as well. Why is this in the articles section BTW? Agree with what everyone else says, not a fan of the smith machine, can cause joint problems etc. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-08-2005, 02:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
big pete UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: south midlands Posts: 3,797	good lifts, same total score as myself. smith machine?? no use whatsoever. wouldnt even hang my towels on it! __________________ any questions?? feel free to email me on.... To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. 'there is greatness inside all of us, how deep are you willing to dig? '

02-08-2005, 11:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Paul Jones Newbie Trainer Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4	300kg squat for 1 340Kg dead lift for 1 400Kg Bench Press for 1 ( Multi gym ) I have been training 24 years the above are personal bests however i only train every other day to give body time to recover etc. The question i asked early on is mainly because my mates recon they can push lift bla bla heavyer weights using the smith machine.But when they come to do simillar using the olympic bar they cant do it.Is there a scientific reason for this or what. As my theory is you can either do it or you cant.

03-08-2005, 07:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
samurai69 Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Mid Portugal - by the sea Posts: 3,076	Thats some serious lifting Personaly I would avoid the smith machine, though you would probably be able to lift more on it as it takes away the balance part of the exercise, that you get using the oly bar

03-08-2005, 09:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
Nev Looking Freaky Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: u.k Posts: 512	wow! 200, i cant even bench half that :confused: , can we c some photos of you ?

04-08-2005, 09:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
crazycacti Fat and bulking... Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Isle of Man/Newcastle Posts: 1,417	impressive lifts! To bring up what has already been said before: '...the smith machines only use is as a towel rack...'

04-08-2005, 04:17 PM	#11 (permalink)
Harry EFBB Winner Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 3,413	The reason why they can lift more on the Smith machine is because it is counter balanced, so basically you haven't the weight of the bar 20kgs, so in theory you should be able to lift 20kgs heavier on the Smith Machine than on the Olympic Bar. You also are using less muscle's to do this as your balancing muscles don't come into play so using less energy.

06-08-2005, 07:12 PM	#12 (permalink)
hackskii UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Southern California U.S.A. Posts: 23,717	The only thing I use smith machine for is shrugs. Other than that, I would not use that for any compound exercise. __________________ "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.

06-08-2005, 08:22 PM	#13 (permalink)
Nev Looking Freaky Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: u.k Posts: 512	i must admit i use the smith machine alot , and totaly agree that i could bench more on that ,than on a bar . makes me look better in the gym tho heavier weights . so the basics of this thread is dont use it , i will recive better benefits and strenght gain from using the bar . __________________ god said " come forth and thee shall recive eternal life " i came 5th and won a toaster

07-08-2005, 04:00 AM	#14 (permalink)
hackskii UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Southern California U.S.A. Posts: 23,717	But, if that is all you have then no probs at all. You have to do what you have to do. I do use it for shrugs and sometimes upright rows if someone else is using the oly bar's. __________________ "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.

15-08-2005, 04:17 PM	#15 (permalink)
fits Getting HUGE! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: East London Posts: 1,361	i have recently, well for a couple of months been training in a gym. always trainned at home before that so all the machines are great new toys to me. Been using the smith machine for bench as its a safe way to push heavy as i would like to get my bench up to some thing half respectable!! done 3 sets then went over to do some inclined dumbell presses today, now i know my tri's were already a bit knackered but i just picked up some 50lbs DB to start, and i struggled to do 5 reps lol now my tri's let me down but i was wobbeling all over the place!!! before i come to india i was doing DB press as my main press, and i can seen now the benifits of stabalizing muscles!! DB or Bar should definately be the main exercize used IMO