Smith Machine. Bueno o malo???

[9inarow]

I was just curious what everyone's thoughts on the Smith Machine was ... especially for the Bench Press and Military Press.

I know guys who swear by it and guys who hate it.

In my experience, I've found I can handle ALOT more weight when using the Smith Machine. Since I don't have to worry about balancing, I can focus on heavy, HEAVY weights.

Some people tell me that the Smith Machine gives the user PERFECT form. I'll agree to the point depending on how the user is situated. Sometimes alot of time is wasted on positioning oneself under the machine.

I've also found that as I become comfortable with the Smith Machine, I lose my ability to lift heavy on free weights ... especially on the Bench Press and Military Press. Since I no longer use the balancing part of my mechanics on the Smith, I can no longer balance a heavy free load properly.

I can see perhaps alternating between Smith and Free every few weeks.

But if you guys HAD to choose between ONE or the other ... would it be Smith or Free?

[Merrida]

Depends, what's your goal?

Free weights will help recruit stabilizers (obviously) more so, (good for definition), and the secured guidance of the Smith will help you pack on the weight for strength gains.

[9inarow]

Originally posted by Merrida
Depends, what's your goal?

Free weights will help recruit stabilizers (obviously) more so, (good for definition), and the secured guidance of the Smith will help you pack on the weight for strength gains.

Merrida, my goals are to have huge, bulging muscles which makes guys' heads turn and girlie hotties get horny. The latter is more important than the former. ha, ha.

Would the Smith or Free work better for that goal?

[Steve]

Originally posted by 9inarow
But if you guys HAD to choose between ONE or the other ... would it be Smith or Free?

I do like the Smith machine...every gym should have at least a couple of them. I use it a lot for shoulders, chest, back and whatever I can think of. I also like free weights. My advice is to use both....

Steve

[miskiw]

use both... you seem to have experienced both sides of the story you realize that when using the smith machines you don't get the stabalizer development... personally I hate it when I use machines for a while then hit the free weights and I am wobbling everywhere... (I basically only use free weight now)....

but when you are using free weights you are recruiting more muscle fibers because of the stablizer involvement...

I would switch back and forth and not allow the stabalizers to fall behind

[Alex(AJ)]

if you have both, use free weights.

[Brewsky]

I only use the Smith machine for decline bench or if I don't have anyone to spot me and I feel like going real heavy.

[Jock]

I never use it, I'm a free-weights man myself. I wanna have complete control of the weight that I'm lifting, otherwise it just don't feel right.

Jock

[ebon00]

No tool is inherently evil like some anti-smith machine pundits will have you believe. It's all about the user as always. I think it's a serious mistake to rely only on the Smith machine for your pressing because that can cause pattern overload (since the groove is alway the same, the same muscles get taxed at the expense of others) which isn't what you want. You've correctly examined this already (the 'balance' factor) so I think you should find a way to include both if you like the Smiths. (I don't personally but that's another story.)