why were smith machines invented?

Bare_head

Bare_head

Bluelighter
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
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so i go to a commercial gym, they have everything there and more, though it gets busy arouund 3ish and i cant imagine what its like after 5pm 8(

why do commercial gyms have smith machines? everything i read on them i read bad things about, but going to the gym and doing my routine (5x5 stronglifts) i see guys on this smith machine and im thinking why do they use them when there is a perfectly good bench, decline/ incline bench there?

So to my question, why were they invented? basically for guys who need spotting? i seen two guys ironically there together using it, i read that the smith machine are pretty bad for ur gains compared to free barbell weights
 
To make money.

Same reason as all these hightech technogym shit machines you see in the big shitness chains.
 
Smith Machines have their place in the gym, just like most other equipment, no matter how silly it looks. I've done all kinds of exercise and exercise variations which would be very awkward or impossible done with a free weight barbell. Having said that, it's true that many beginners probably would do best avoiding them for the most part until they have a strong core and have amassed quite a bit of training/body knowledge.
 
Smith machine uses:
  • Standing calf-raises
  • Shrugs
  • Occasional supplementary press-movement

That's all I've got hahaha
 
Ty guys , as i say im jus starting out lifting and trying to build a core, seriously cnt do one pullup, but hoping to soon, need food its 2.45am ffs nt even tired :-( going dwn to 5mg of etiz cnt feel a thing tonight :-(
 
When doing a smith bench press, you don't need to stabilize the weight, so you can put more focus on your chest and triceps. The smith machine basically stabilizes the weight for you. It can be bad for your joints though.
 
It gives people that are intimidated by a barbell or free weights more confidence. You don't have to worry about the weight crashing on top of you since you can just twist it onto the notches.

They aren't useless though, I used to use a smith machine for sitting military presses. And I've also used them for close grip bench press. I see people doing squats/deadlifts on them though and IMO that is stupid.
 
I've been forced to do squats in a smith machine once...was on perfectly vertical rails though, so actually wasn't too bad. Still not preferred in any way.

Like I sorta touched on, I reckon they'd be useful for complimentary press movements. Say at the end of a chest session when your form is starting to falter due from exhaustion and you're struggling to stabilise the bar - smith machine can help you push out a few more sets. That being said, it should never be used as the basis of your workouts.
 
smith machine helps for isolation of chest tri's....... the pro's use smiths/machines all the time......... people think that lifters are only supposed to do raw squats, raw deadlifts, pull-ups, bench-press... the truth is.... you will grow on all the machines when your running gear and eating right.......... the exercises start to matter not as much as your food and your hormones.
 
I dnt think i will use hormones to build strength, i do feel my test levels are low but i have pretty high anger levels (mainly caused by anxiety due to my condition)

I have lost alot of libido last year or so, mainly from etizolam, anxiety..

i am interested to see how a vegetarian is going to cope with lifting, i am trying to eat aswell as i can but feel without meat im not gonna see gains as easy?

Rest day today, yeh im up to 45kg squats (lol) n 25kg on OHP 50kg deadlift :-D but the OHP that is probably the hardest exercise i am struggling to get 5 x 5 out without my shoulders quivering! Lol

Im trying to get used to cottage cheese but its texture makes me gag lol, dunno why? Same with alot of foods, i know chicken n tuna were faves of mine before i choose vegetarian about 8 years old...

maybe in two years if i still serious about lifting will i experiment with said stuff but without the proper knowledge, body n pct knowledge id be stupid, n that i am not...

i merely know few steroids, n the side effects they can have on certain people..
 
Can i say i respect alot of guys knowledge about steroids and trainging in general, would definitely only ever go through the proper HR techniques yous advise if i were to ever use steroids, i definitely would be interested to know my test levels though, that would be cool
 
Bare_head said:
Can i say i respect alot of guys knowledge about steroids and trainging in general, would definitely only ever go through the proper HR techniques yous advise if i were to ever use steroids, i definitely would be interested to know my test levels though, that would be cool
Click to expand...
Get blood work done. Low test can negatively affect ones mood not only in a depression way as often seen but also aggressiveness. We got a good group of people here ranging in age, hormone experience and compound experience.

As per topic the Smith machine I only use for high rep squats to failure and steep incline bench. I'd also recommend it for reverse grip bench so it's not a death wish as I've seen some attempt it with a barbell and can't push the weight back up lol..
 
pull ups/chin ups if it has the needed attachments

inverted rows

shrugs

anything with a short rom

i mean, yeah, you can do all that and more with a power rack, but some people just feel more comfortable with the smith machine
 
trozzle said:
I've been forced to do squats in a smith machine once...was on perfectly vertical rails though, so actually wasn't too bad. Still not preferred in any way.

Like I sorta touched on, I reckon they'd be useful for complimentary press movements. Say at the end of a chest session when your form is starting to falter due from exhaustion and you're struggling to stabilise the bar - smith machine can help you push out a few more sets. That being said, it should never be used as the basis of your workouts.
Click to expand...


A squat isnt perfectly vertical.
 
Bone14 said:
A squat isnt perfectly vertical.
Click to expand...

+1

squats in the smith machine never felt right to me
and all but one of the guys/girls i've seen doing them irl were either doing quarter squats or were forced by the machine to use some really unnatural looking form
 
Bare_head said:
I dnt think i will use hormones to build strength, i do feel my test levels are low but i have pretty high anger levels (mainly caused by anxiety due to my condition)

I have lost alot of libido last year or so, mainly from etizolam, anxiety..

i am interested to see how a vegetarian is going to cope with lifting, i am trying to eat aswell as i can but feel without meat im not gonna see gains as easy?

Rest day today, yeh im up to 45kg squats (lol) n 25kg on OHP 50kg deadlift :-D but the OHP that is probably the hardest exercise i am struggling to get 5 x 5 out without my shoulders quivering! Lol

Im trying to get used to cottage cheese but its texture makes me gag lol, dunno why? Same with alot of foods, i know chicken n tuna were faves of mine before i choose vegetarian about 8 years old...

maybe in two years if i still serious about lifting will i experiment with said stuff but without the proper knowledge, body n pct knowledge id be stupid, n that i am not...

i merely know few steroids, n the side effects they can have on certain people..
Click to expand...

Low testosterone causes aggression.
 
Makes sense... you probably always feel you've got something to prove... high test you just don't care because you know you're the man :)
 
High test would imo cause more of a confidence rather than an aggression.
How often do you see the decently well built natty flip out with normal to high test levels or even somebody on 500mg test alone?
Compare this with people who tend to be overweight, they tend to be much more angry all the time. No science Here just irl experiance lol
 
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