Is there much of a difference between flat bench bar...

[Chicago Made]

and flat bench on (can't think of the name) one of the bars that do the same thing but has the safety hook?

Do you know what machine I'm talking about? It doesn't come off (the bar), but you do put plates on it.

I hope I was somewhat successful in my descripton...


Brian

 

[879654]

and flat bench on (can't think of the name) one of the bars that do the same thing but has the safety hook?

Do you know what machine I'm talking about? It doesn't come off (the bar), but you do put plates on it.

I hope I was somewhat successful in my descripton...


Brian

Smith machine.

 

[GymLift]

Smith machine follows a straight and predetermined line. But when I do squats, the bar certainly doesn't move along the same line, nor is it straight.

Better for the body to move the way it wants than force your body to follow the axis from the smith.

 

[gator_mclusky]

You will get alot more out of using free weights as opposed to using the Smith Machine. With regular flat and incline bench you bring more secondary muscles into play as they stabilize the weight as you do reps. With the Smith Machine these muscles dont come into play as its a fixed path that is controlled by the machine.

Hope this helps.

Gator

 

[evansss]

smith sucks. only thing i have recently used them for is close grip bench and i switched over to free weights on that as well.

 

[mister69]

smythe has its place in training. But i will never squat in a smythe again after i got injured last year.

 

[Chicago Made]

Hey, thanks a lot guys.

I wanted to know because I don't always have a spotter and I like to err on the side of caution.

Brian

 

[gumbo]

Hey, thanks a lot guys.

I wanted to know because I don't always have a spotter and I like to err on the side of caution.

Brian

Use dumbells.....you can simply drop them if you get stuck. DB's offer a better range of motion and will isolate your chest better than any flat-bar chest exercise.

Gumbo

 

[AngryMuscles]

DB are tri/shoulder killer so be careful

 

[adidamps2]

also depending on the smith there counter wt can be anywere from 20-50lbs..making you think your superman when in fact you are not.

i do like the SM for rev grip banch and for shoulder presses.

 

[jcp2]

I don't like the smith, but many people do. Probably because i am so tall and lanky it is hard being in a fixed plane. It is better than nothing but probably not as good as freeweights. May be useful for some thing if you are already fatiqued.

 

[ManOfMuscle]

Just use the smith every once in a while as you would any other machine.

 

[outlawtas]

Just use the smith every once in a while as you would any other machine.

Agreed. It has it's place, but I would stick to mostly free weights

 

[ManOfMuscle]

Machines are great for hitting muscles from a different angle or finishing up a workout after your stabalizers are shot. The important thing is that they aren't substituted for free weights.