smith machine squats vs free weight squats

[Zach Trowbridge]

Can somebody please explain to me how the fuck you squat in a Smith by setting your feet BEHIND the bar?  Stupidest advice I've ever heard come out of a "pro's" mouth, ever.

[thewickedtruth]

Can somebody please explain to me how the fuck you squat in a Smith by setting your feet BEHIND the bar?  Stupidest advice I've ever heard come out of a "pro's" mouth, ever.

i'm thinking maybe something resembling a sissy squat but yeah i'm right there with you ZT

[WhiteCastle]

Can somebody please explain to me how the fuck you squat in a Smith by setting your feet BEHIND the bar?  Stupidest advice I've ever heard come out of a "pro's" mouth, ever.

Read his post again and it's pretty obvious that taking a full step out from the bar and a half step back won't put you behind the bar.

[Zach Trowbridge]

Read his post again and it's pretty obvious that taking a full step out from the bar and a half step back won't put you behind the bar.

"Take a regular stance like you would if you just stepped out from the rack...now take a half step BACKWARDS...this will put you in the proper alignment to squat...and no pressure on the knees."

Nothing about stepping forward and then back.  Just about stepping back.  Therefore, behind the bar.

[WhiteCastle]

"Take a regular stance like you would if you just stepped out from the rack...now take a half step BACKWARDS...this will put you in the proper alignment to squat...and no pressure on the knees."

Nothing about stepping forward and then back.  Just about stepping back.  Therefore, behind the bar.

What do you think "step out from the rack" means?  Step is a verb, out (forward) is the direction.  We know it isn't backwards, because BACKWARDS is clearly mentioned in the next segment.

[Zach Trowbridge]

What do you think "step out from the rack" means?  Step is a verb, out (forward) is the direction.  We know it isn't backwards, because BACKWARDS is clearly mentioned in the next segment.

"All you guys are using the Smith machine wrong...your feet don't go out in front of you..they go back."

Face it, Chick is making no fucking sense here.

[io856]

The smith machine squat is really uncomfortable, don't see why you would want to do it.

[WhiteCastle]

"All you guys are using the Smith machine wrong...your feet don't go out in front of you..they go back."

Face it, Chick is making no fucking sense here.

I'm pretty sure he is indicating they go back from where all you guys are doing them (out in front of you).  He never once used the term "behind you."

[Sherief Shalaby]

When I did the squat on the Smith for the first time I - without thinking - placed my feet under my body as this seemed to me to be the natural thing.. And yes I felt some pain and unease in my knees.. Then one day I noticed the diagram that was stuck on the machine and it was showing in the photos for the squat the feet in front of the man.. I tried it and it worked very well without any pressure on my knees.. Again I am saying that what works for some one is not necessary good for the other.. Even if the advice comes from a prof. champion you have to see first if it's workable with you or not before taking it for granted..

If you don't have any problems with both the normal squat and the Smith squat I believe it's better to use both of them in an alternative way.. You can do the one you like more for 3 or 4 successive legs workouts then break your routine by doing the one you like less for 1 workout just to avoid being bored.. Being bored while training leads you to lesser gains!!..

[RZA]

poor excuse..you can get hurt just as easily with a smith machine and imho even MORE SO from just using the smith then not before.  It's always smart to learn how to dump a squat if necessary.. where free weights you can dump it and jump forward and let it roll off.. on a smith it pretty much smashes your ass into the floor.

Your body has a natural plane on which it follows..and a smith machine isn't on that plane.

Actually, you read my post again, you'll see that I'm saying the exact same thing a you.

[Viking11]

I haven't been a fan of Smith machine squats. However, have done some work ln it the past few months, though I still rely on regylar squats as my primary. A  few observations.. 1. For ME, I can only go ATG on the the smith, because in order for me to get that low, I have discovered I have to put my feet a good foot in front of me. Ar 6 2  +, try as I might, I really can only hut parallel with the free squat, even with just the bar. 2. I can use more weight on regular squats 550 for 9 today, versus maybe 405 on smith. 3. I get a better pump on Smith , at least in the quads, but hit the overall leg more with the free weight. Hope these observations can help someone. Ps Happy squatting, still the best overall exercise!

[garebear]

Smith machine.

[Royalty]

for me....

Regular squats = Olympic Barbell

Front squats = Smith Machine

[garebear]

You think he belongs in the hall of fame? I don't. Flame away. I found his game too one-sided. As much as I respect a perennial gold glover, I have to take exception. The writers wouldn't vote in Dave Kingman because his game was one-sided. So why vote in the wizard? I just don't get it. He was abysmal at the plate.

Still, there was that glove, and it was magic.

Whitey Herzog once said that if you're a manager and looking for a shortstop that can hit, you're in trouble. Shortstops aren't held to the same offensive standards as a first baseman or an outfielder.

That said, Ozzie's offensive game became better, he even hit over .300 during the 1987 season. Also, he stole a lot of bases, scored runs, and was a good contact/#2 hitter who could move runners over.

All around catalyst to those teams that were so successful in the 80s.

Definitely HOF material.

Actually, I am a little surprised anyone even knew who that was. You must be over 30 as well.

[tbombz]

for me the answer is neither

i like hacks, presses, uni presses, extensions, eccentric uni extensions, lying curls, seated curls, stiff leg deads

never do squats though they just dont feel comfortable 

[Cleanest Natural]

[The Coach]

.......function vs non-function thats the difference in a nutshell.

[elite_lifter]

.......function vs non-function thats the difference in a nutshell.

agreed, smith is very restrictive.

[Sherief Shalaby]

Chick disagrees:

I think the smith is a horrible machine, and offers no advantages in normal circumstances.

But Dorian agrees Here he does it with his feet in front of him..

[io856]

But Dorian agrees

fucck thats big

[DK II]

smith machine squats suck.

close thread.

[wavelength]

I think smith machine is OK with light weight and very controlled movement.

[DK II]

I think smith machine is OK with light weight and very controlled movement.

That's plain useless for squats.

If you want slow, controlled movements, there are several things that are better than squats in a smith machine.

[Playboy]

ive never done smith squats, what are the advantages/disadvantaes? im thinking about switchig things up today and doing squats on the smith. thanks

Stick to free weight.

[wavelength]

That's plain useless for squats.

If you want slow, controlled movements, there are several things that are better than squats in a smith machine.

I agree, it's not a substitute for heavy squats.