Smith Machine...

[barrettmil]

Does anyone here use this thing?

I just recently started going to a commercial gym again and I have seen a ton of people using this piece of crap for everything and I mean everthing. It is probably the most used thing in the whole gym. The best is guys who load up the smith machine squat bar, then proceed to wrap their knees and get their belt on and then damned if they wouldn't do quarter squats...........I would like to know if anyone uses these things here and why?

[Ross Martin]

No and i dont think anyone elce dose.

[barrettmil]

thank goodness cause I feel sick everytime I see these idiots. :BB:

[Nikhil Rao]

I use them for one thing and one thing only:

DE/explosive triceps work in the form of CG bench and partial OHP stuff.

Using a smith lets me actually launch the weight out of my hands at the top of the stroke. I can use the distance as a gauge for explosiveness. The deceleration effect makes it safe and easy to catch the bar.

Helps me pick the right DE weights too. I look for 12" above hands on the last rep of hte triple before moving up in my next session.

[MaxMisch]

Smith machine? Hell no.

[MalachiMcMullen]

I have used one when I started out but they are so uncomfortable and awkward for squatting.

[RyanWilson]

I'll occasionally use it for overhead shrugs since I need about a 3-4" ROM at most, and other than that, it's pretty well just a giant hunk of scrap metal as far as I'm concerned. Maybe there's something else it's good for, but if so, I haven't really found it yet.

[Kevin Cronin]

if you do any power strap work/chain suspended pushups it's useful for hanging the power straps/chains from.

I tried using it one day since the gym DBs only go up to 90# and I wanted to do heavy one arm rows, but its just to awkward a stroke.

[Mike O'Connor]

the machine is complete garbage..

so many people have gotten hurt on these machines. torn shoulders, and torn quads. a guy at our gym got really injured using this machine. He fell forward and crashed into the mirror. he couldnt rack it. resulting tearing all of his leg muscles off his body. and destroying both of his knees. This is def the worst machine out there. garbarge garbage. even ISSA said they are absolute garbage and dangerous.. basicaly stay away from this thing.

[Lance Foster]

I have seen guys, usually teenagers, lay on the ground and push the bar with their feet, often with 300 + pounds on it. It's sort of like watching a train wreck, esp with the 6 inches or less of movement coupled with the screaming, like "who's your daddy?, etc.

[nathan fitzgerald]

I used it a little when I was rehabbing my knee. Otherwise it is a waste of space.

[JEFF VANCO]

The smith machine is a ........

dirty, dirty sin - I won't even rest my hand on it when I'm tired. (I"m not joking either)

[Rob Haan]

I have only used them a few times and only when I did not have a choice, but

Jouko Ahola does front squats on a smith machine in his video, he says to improve his conan's wheel and Magnus Samuelson uses one for incline press in his video

Rob

[Jeff King]

I have more of a phobia of BOSU myself.

[Ryan Rhodes]

I use it all the time.. right after the butt-blaster and before the pec deck. It's the best for lunges and bench pressing. :rolleyes:

[Tony Moses]

I use the frame to stretch out on between sets... the Smith also makes a good place to dump your gym bag, sneakers, etc

I guess if you could strap a harness to it and drag it around the parking lot it could be useful.

[Matt Meinrod]

I do my incline benching on a smith -- no i'm not bullshitting

Mostly because I train alone (by choice) and don't trust spotters when I'm inclining 365 for rest paused sets of 12/3/2

[Steve Trippe]

You guys are all to closed minded... I use it almost every session...


Mobility work (lateral duckunders, step overs, etc)\
bodyweight rows and tricep extensions...
hanging my towel...
stretching my hamstrings


Also, in our gym it's right next to the squat rack, so I like to load a couple plates on it and hang my towel on the bar so no one comes near me...

[darrenmallette]

If I have to use it, I'll use it for bench press throws, bottoms-up zerchers and body-weight rows.

[Matt Schumann]

I'll use it for some dead exercises, dead military's mostly sometimes dead bench presses...