i dont agree , the smith forces you to use proper form,the back should be in harmony with the vertical movement, so if you re leaning with your back its time to put your feet more forward of the bar. I also believe that building a strong lower back is crucial for good form and strength for squats. I didnt do deadlift for a couple of months and all of a sudden i had problems with squat-form.
This post is so wrong on so many levels it disgusts me!
El Macronie you might be the most ignorant person on this board when it comes to weight training. Please never advise ANYONE on how to lift weights.
As far as the Smith MAchine goes:
1) Zero functional transfer to real life, sports or other lifts.
2) Develops strength in only one dimension, predisposing you to injury in the underdeveloped planes of movement resulting in pattern overload syndrome. This can lead to medical bills in the long run.
3) Because the bar is fixed, the person is able to lean against the bar while doing squats. This minimizes hip extension, thus allowing the hamstrings to take a siesta during the movement. Trouble is the hamstrings help to stabilize the knee during squats, and the result of taking them out of the picture is to induce a sheering force on the joint. This could ultimately lead to a blown anterior cruciate ligament.