is smith machine safer if done correctly,when doing squat?

[vietwarrior]

I was doing squat today for strong lift 5x5. I wasn't doing exactly well, i was struggling a little. So along came a big 46 yrs old man, and he has been weight lifting for i don't know half his life. He is a trainer at the gym, he came up to me and told me i was doing it wrong, seeing that he is big and he he told me himself he has been weight lifting longer then i have i took some of his advise it helped.


Then he suggested i do the smith machine, i told him "doesn't it put you into position you don't feel comfortable?" and he says " ya but not if you do it right". he said its safer, i didn't want to change what im doing i feel im good, but he's older so i had to give it a try. Afterward i went back to my squat. Question. If my squat techniqe is not correct, should i deload the weight to where it is light enough for me to practice my techniqes, or shud i just practice my techniqes on my warm up and continue adding weights with the same weights?

I squat 225Ib my bodyweight is 187Ib

[killerdude494949]

Lower the weight and use the FREE WEIGHTS. Smith machines are theoretically safer because you dont have to stabilize the bar, but that it exactly the problem, your body is designed to work as a unit and a smith machine will cause imbalances.

it also makes it way too easy and you dont get the anabolic response as you would with free weights.

Also, smith machines put excessive stress on the knee. so dont listen to the guy. reason he doesnt have evident knee problems is because he looks like a bodybuilding monkey to me from what you described, he probably does way more upper body exercises compared to his smith machine squats.

[vietwarrior]

Thanks! lol and yeah he does look like a bodybuilding monkey.

Lower the weight and use the FREE WEIGHTS. Smith machines are theoretically safer because you dont have to stabilize the bar, but that it exactly the problem, your body is designed to work as a unit and a smith machine will cause imbalances.

it also makes it way too easy and you dont get the anabolic response as you would with free weights.

Also, smith machines put excessive stress on the knee. so dont listen to the guy. reason he doesnt have evident knee problems is because he looks like a bodybuilding monkey to me from what you described, he probably does way more upper body exercises compared to his smith machine squats.

[holvoetn]

Smith machine can have its use but only after you have exploided all options on using free weights.

Now go squat with a free bar !

[summerss]

Here's 4 useful properties of a Smith Machine:

1 Coat hook
2 Adjustable height pullup bar
3 Keeps the unfriendly cliques away from the squat rack
4 Scrap metal

Seriously though no lift naturally involves perfect straight line motion and for the squat, it could force your back into a position that it shouldn't be risking long term injury. So like everyone else here says free weights are the way forward.

[wrenchhands]

Even if it was "Safer", it still sucks. Let's see you are putting more effort in with your right leg than left, how would you know?

[Jim Slade]

You're supposed to struggle on squats. Don't let the fact that you have to fight for a rep send you to the smith machine.

[nburge]

1 Coat hook
2 Adjustable height pullup bar
3 Keeps the unfriendly cliques away from the squat rack
4 Scrap metal

You just made my day! In my gym it is best used for 2 and 3! It also has a fifth use - making lugheads who can't squat properly (with free weights) brag about the huge weight they can "squat" ... this is less desirable...

[holvoetn]

Let them think how awesome they are ... their problem.

[rere]

You're supposed to struggle on squats. Don't let the fact that you have to fight for a rep send you to the smith machine.

Oh this why sometimes I feel a sense of "wussiness" come over me when the weight get's heavy

[dhw]

You have worked your way up to about 1.2 x BW., why would you want to give up all of the gains and benefits that you have achieved? You are most certainly in the gut-check area which a huge majority of gym goers (I hate to call them lifters) never reach. Getting your form back will make you feel great and give you confidence. So, just deload and know that you will be able to push through your current level. Besides building muscles and strength, you will be building character.

[rere]

Besides building muscles and strength, you will be building character.

Amen dhw

[Dada]

So along came a big 46 yrs old man, and he has been weight lifting for i don't know half his life.

Thanks! lol and yeah he does look like a bodybuilding monkey..

I'm convinced after reading this, that the guy is RBtrout and he was just joking about the smith machine. LOL But it's a gorilla, not a monkey.

Kidding obviously but yeah ditch the smith machine and do real squats. It is safer and will give you real strength rather than just an inflated ego.

[RJK]

Vietworrior, you would be better off making an argument for high repition nautilus machine concentration curls wearing a weight belt followed by one hour of moderate cardio on this site vs. inquiring on a smith machine.

[americanadian]

Bull,

Squatting should only be done on a smith machine, if at all: leg press and extensions are WAY better. The only thing a squat rack is good for is super heavy curls. The kind where you are almost shearing your spine to get the weight up.