I'm probably going to stir up a hornets nest here but I want to grab some opinions on Smith machines, I purchased a Body Solid Smith machine for the sole reason that I train alone and things were getting dodgy with free weights. Now the rub, I've read opinions that state it is easier to Bench press 100kg on a smith machine than it is with free weights and I just have to dispute this through my own experience, I can Bench at least as much if not slightly more using free weights than I do on the Smith machine. I believe that the inability to create the arc that you naturally do with free weights actually hampers the Smith machine press. Of course you can be more cavalier with the Smith machine and attempt the second unachievable rep. Any comments welcome.
I'm probably going to stir up a hornets nest here but I want to grab some opinions on Smith machines, I purchased a Body Solid Smith machine for the sole reason that I train alone and things were getting dodgy with free weights.
The Body Solid Power Cage would have cost less, solved the same problem, and been more useful.
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Now the rub,
Desitin cream or talcum powder.
Quoted message said:
I've read opinions that state it is easier to Bench press 100kg on a smith machine than it is with free weights and I just have to dispute this through my own experience, I can Bench at least as much if not slightly more using free weights than I do on the Smith machine. I believe that the inability to create the arc that you naturally do with free weights actually hampers the Smith machine press. Of course you can be more cavalier with the Smith machine and attempt the second unachievable rep. Any comments welcome.
Your experience differs from most others. What anatomical anomolies do you have to account for this? Hump back? Vestigial third arm from your partially formed twin?
I'm probably going to stir up a hornets nest here but I want to grab some opinions on Smith machines, I purchased a Body Solid Smith machine for the sole reason that I train alone and things were getting dodgy with free weights.
The Body Solid Power Cage would have cost less, solved the same problem, and been more useful.
Quoted message said:
Now the rub,
Desitin cream or talcum powder.
Quoted message said:
I've read opinions that state it is easier to Bench press 100kg on a smith machine than it is with free weights and I just have to dispute this through my own experience, I can Bench at least as much if not slightly more using free weights than I do on the Smith machine. I believe that the inability to create the arc that you naturally do with free weights actually hampers the Smith machine press. Of course you can be more cavalier with the Smith machine and attempt the second unachievable rep. Any comments welcome.
Your experience differs from most others. What anatomical anomolies do you have to account for this? Hump back? Vestigial third arm from your partially formed twin?
I can't squat as much to proper depth in a smith machine as with free weights. Though that's because my back gets pushed out of place and hurts in a smith machine.
Your experience differs from most others. What anatomical anomolies do you have to account for this? Hump back? Vestigial third arm from your partially formed twin?
And if he has a spare arm, couldn't he "just" do a two-armed bench press, and spot himself with the third ?
"Ralph Porter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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I'm probably going to stir up a hornets nest here
A safe prediction.
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I can Bench at least as much if not slightly more using free weights than I do on the Smith machine. I believe that the inability to create the arc that you naturally do with free weights actually hampers the Smith machine press. Of course you can be more cavalier with the Smith machine and attempt the second unachievable rep. Any comments welcome.
Everybody's body is different I guess, but you're the first person I've heard of who finds that. Anyone I've ever talked to who's gone from smith machines for bench or overhead presses to free weights usually finds they have to significantly lower the weight they're lifting. Its a pretty common occurence at the local gym ... often notified by a "can someone help me here" coming from the bench area.
And most have to lower the weight even more if they go to using dumbells instead of bars ... which leads me to my suggestion. At home I bench dumbells instead of the bar. Won't work if you're massively strong (ie the heavily easily available are 150 lbs) but its very safe, and you can go to failure without a spotter so long as you have a good floor under you ... its very easy to drop them safely to the side when your arms give out. I made a couple of stands (though a couple strong chairs would work as well) to make it easier to get the weights into position.
Your experience differs from most others. What anatomical anomolies do you have to account for this? Hump back? Vestigial third arm from your partially formed twin?
And if he has a spare arm, couldn't he "just" do a two-armed bench press, and spot himself with the third ?
No. The vestigial arm has just enough strength to fondle himself while lifting.
Wouldn't a hump backed dwarf win every bench press competitiopn, just by showing up?
"David Cohen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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"Donovan Rebbechi" <[email hidden]> wrote
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David Cohen said:
Your experience differs from most others. What anatomical anomolies do you have to account for this? Hump back? Vestigial third arm from your partially formed twin?
And if he has a spare arm, couldn't he "just" do a two-armed bench press, and spot himself with the third ?
No. The vestigial arm has just enough strength to fondle himself while lifting.
Wouldn't a hump backed dwarf win every bench press competitiopn, just by showing up?
Is that one of those "if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it ...." kind of questions?
"Steve Freides" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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"David Cohen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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"Donovan Rebbechi" <[email hidden]> wrote
Quoted message said:
David Cohen <[email hidden]> wrote:
> Your experience differs from most others. What anatomical anomolies do > you > have to account for this? Hump back? Vestigial third arm from your > partially > formed twin?
And if he has a spare arm, couldn't he "just" do a two-armed bench press, and spot himself with the third ?
No. The vestigial arm has just enough strength to fondle himself while lifting.
Wouldn't a hump backed dwarf win every bench press competitiopn, just by showing up?
Is that one of those "if a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it ..." kind of questions?
I thought it was a suggestion that too much kettlebell training could result in such a hump backed dwarf physique.
I've found that I use a little less weight on the Smith machine because of the slight friction of the track. Thus overall it's slightly harder to use than free weights. Overall I think the Smith Machine's an advantage in terms of training to failure, the ability to be more cavalier in training, as mentioned. No small thing. Sure, a rack should allow the same, but in actual use i find the fixed motion and lower risk makes the Smith Machine superior for getting those last reps out.
Wouldn't a hump backed dwarf win every bench press competitiopn, just by showing up?
Imagine what he could do on the deadlift.
Speaking of which..
is there actually any rule that says you can't just go for a super wide stance where you are already in the 'finish position' with the bar on the floor?
I'm probably going to stir up a hornets nest here but I want to grab some opinions on Smith machines, I purchased a Body Solid Smith machine for the sole reason that I train alone and things were getting dodgy with free weights. Now the rub, I've read opinions that state it is easier to Bench press 100kg on a smith machine than it is with free weights and I just have to dispute this through my own experience, I can Bench at least as much if not slightly more using free weights than I do on the Smith machine. I believe that the inability to create the arc that you naturally do with free weights actually hampers the Smith machine press. Of course you can be more cavalier with the Smith machine and attempt the second unachievable rep. Any comments welcome.
How long ago did you start using Smith?
The reason for freewaight bench to be easier for you (for now) might be just that you're not fully accustomed to the Smith yet. After all, the movement is slightly different. Wait a little -- and your Smith press will overtake plain one. IMHO.
--- Signature has been removed to save disk space.
"AleX" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Ralph Porter said:
I'm probably going to stir up a hornets nest here but I want to grab some opinions on Smith machines, I purchased a Body Solid Smith machine for the sole reason that I train alone and things were getting dodgy with free weights. Now the rub, I've read opinions that state it is easier to Bench press 100kg on a smith machine than it is with free weights and I just have to dispute this through my own experience, I can Bench at least as much if not slightly more using free weights than I do on the Smith machine. I believe that the inability to create the arc that you naturally do with free weights actually hampers the Smith machine press. Of course you can be more cavalier with the Smith machine and attempt the second unachievable rep. Any comments welcome.
How long ago did you start using Smith?
The reason for freewaight bench to be easier for you (for now) might be just that you're not fully accustomed to the Smith yet. After all, the movement is slightly different. Wait a little -- and your Smith press will overtake plain one. IMHO.
If you're just trying for muscle mass Smith's might be okay. They're not useful if you lift to enchance sport performance, because you don't develop the stabalizing muscles. This is especially true for squats, but also true for the bench press ...
Most people, including myself, prefer free weights. However, it's really just a matter of slowly getting stronger and increasing the amount of weight that you use at each workout. If you're benching 135 lbs. on the smith machine now and you work your way up to 405 lbs. your chest is going to be a lot bigger regardless of whether you used free weights or not.
I guess there may well be something in that because most of my training had been on free weights until the last 3 months or so. I guess if I mix in some heavy dumbell presses then I should minimize the potential drop off.
I can't squat as much to proper depth in a smith machine as with free weights. Though that's because my back gets pushed out of place and hurts in a smith machine.
Peter
That was exactly my experience and the reason I started looking for alternatives. This led me to mfw and then to changing gyms to one that said they would buy a Powerrack. They did and my back is happy 😉
-- Perre I gave up on SPAM and redirected it to hotmail instead.
Wouldn't a hump backed dwarf win every bench press competitiopn, just by showing up?
Imagine what he could do on the deadlift.
Speaking of which..
is there actually any rule that says you can't just go for a super wide stance where you are already in the 'finish position' with the bar on the floor?
How do you think Pavel does 585?
(Steve's gonna get me for that one.)
Seth -- Note to self: a powerlifting meet is not a recommended taper for a track event. --Ted K.
I'm probably going to stir up a hornets nest here but I want to grab some opinions on Smith machines, I purchased a Body Solid Smith machine for the sole reason that I train alone and things were getting dodgy with free weights. Now the rub, I've read opinions that state it is easier to Bench press 100kg on a smith machine than it is with free weights and I just have to dispute this through my own experience, I can Bench at least as much if not slightly more using free weights than I do on the Smith machine. I believe that the inability to create the arc that you naturally do with free weights actually hampers the Smith machine press. Of course you can be more cavalier with the Smith machine and attempt the second unachievable rep. Any comments welcome.
How long ago did you start using Smith?
The reason for freewaight bench to be easier for you (for now) might be just that you're not fully accustomed to the Smith yet. After all, the movement is slightly different. Wait a little -- and your Smith press will overtake plain one. IMHO.
the great thing about the Smith machine is that there are so MANY Smith machines... <maniacal laughter> -- "... the street term for it would be 'Byxmyndig' *legal to get in pants* (it's true)" - Dukeman, in AGHL
