Bench press options

[Shnowy]

Hey so I've decided to do 5x5 for the next 3 months. I have a cage I can use at uni (Not at home) so that's good for a lot of these exercises. But for bench I'm quite nervous about using it entirely freeweight, and I usually use DBs.

Would it be ok to use the smith machine maybe for the bench?

Ta

[thefinalsql]

Do you have a spotter?

Check this out for Bench Press with no spotter: http://stronglifts.com/how-to-bench-press-safely-when-youre-alone/

Good luck on your journey!

[kidsoftheblackhole]

how about you start with an empty barbell and see how you go; free-weights are way better.

[Shnowy]

I don't have a spotter.. But the gym is usually so packed I can grab somebody if I really need to.
One problem is when I'm not at uni, there are no gyms with anything but DBs or smiths for benching.

[shaun680]

Just don't collar the plates so you can dump them off to one side if it goes wrong. But as long as you're careful and don't try to finish a set when you're knackered you probably wont ever have to.