Smith Machines

For me I really don't like them & would never choose to use them but with working offshore it can often be the only way to get some lifts done

Deadlifts: Normally partials & some one handed stuff.

Squats: Zerchers are the only option for me on the Smith

OH Pressing: Not usually high enough to do a standing press even for someone as compact as myself so I tend to use a flat bench just so I can move a little to take stress off the joints and get my head through at lockout.

Benching: Flat, incline & rev grip all feel awfull so tend to avoid



Do any of you lot choose to use the Smith other than somewhere to hang your stuff on?

I have to use the smith machine frame for squatting and overhead pressing as it the only thing in the gym that wil hold te weights. Fortunatley i can move the actual smith machine bar out of the way!

I do use it for z presses and incline bench as i have no other option!

It must be a linear bearing along with stainless rods for smooth glide!
I build them and design equipment. In addition the j hooks must lock smoothly

I use them once in a while just to take some stress of the joints (shoulders and incline press usually)

Other than that they're just a handy clothes horse for my top

in the ast i have used a smith machine until i fell over in one doing squats and 180kg came down on my neck.

but useful exercises i have used them for.
1) bench lock outs
2) incline press
3) squats (to replicate a machine squats at a comp)
4) shrugs
5) machine style deadlift.

I use the one in my gym all the time for hanging my towel on.

Good for getting a squat suit on when youve forgotten your suit slippers.

Seem to remember terry like them for doing bent over rows.

Only thing I use it for is inverted rows occasionally

When I was based in Egypt there was a gym in an Alexandria Hotel that I used.
The Smith machine allowed for transverse travel due to guides both horizontal & vertical.
You lifted inside same as a power rack and it had hooks on both ends,
Due to the transverse travel there was no locking dogs that reqired the bar to be rotated.
Cant remember which company made the machine but you could pratically do anything apart from FTOH lifts

GRRRR I'm so mad.
I use the smith for calf raises and incline bench on occasion.
We have this technogym Smith and it says on the inscription "260kg max load".
f**king council funded gym have hung a sign "120kg max" on there. I can barely warm up my calves on that. WTF are they doing? bas***ds.

Sorry about the language

Just say you thought the 120kg was for each side

There was some guy on here that posted a 260kg (or perhaps more) smith machine bench press on here. A bodybuilder who was pondering entering bench comps.

Yeah what happened to him, beast bencher.

i remember that!

i used to do the bent over rows in there terry style, i felt the actual excersize was good,in terms of the contraction, but i couldn't use enough weights what with the bar being locked.

shoulder pressing with the bands in there i find pretty good, takes out the stability issues you can get with the bands and really hammers the triceps.

I bought one from Portsmouth - I even drive down and collected it myself (from Bolton) - I NEVER used it!

I did sell it for more than I bought it for though, so no harm done!