Exactly true Chick. If you do Smith squats with your feet out in front you are doing them wrong !!!!! That's why they hurt and you are not getting any results newbs..... Place your feet right under you as you would with the free squat. Smith machine squats are actually better and you will achieve greater results when you are using very heavy weight as your back, erectors, glutes are not doing most of the work. I don't know about the long leg / short torso thing. but I'm the opposite, with short legs and long torso and Smith machine squats feel awesome for me. And don't use those newish stupid Smith machines that are on that slight angle. That might be your problem. You should be going straight up and down. I also have always thought the weight should be on your shoulders for legs, for a full range of motion. I don't ever do Leg press for that reason. Not nearly the results I get from Free squats, Hacks, and Smiths.