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Benching Free Weights vs Smith Machine

guppy1697
guppy1697 Posts: 148 Member
edited December 2024 in Social Groups
I was wondering if there is a difference in weight or anything between using a smith machine to bench or a regular bench? I am at a hotel complex that has a smith machine and benched today. Other than feeling different I was wondering if there was a difference with the smith machine being on the track? I was able to lift more on the smith machine today than the bench at my gym. Nothing drastic, just felt like I was able to.

Thanks for the help and advice.

Replies

  • bahacca
    bahacca Posts: 878 Member
    The main difference is BALANCE. The Smith keeps the bar steady for you. You've gotta do that yourself using a bench. Also grip may come into play, but i'm not sure by how much. I know I can squat FAR more on a Smith than on my own. Just load it up until you feel the burn you would by doing it without the Smith.
  • Shfiftyfive
    Shfiftyfive Posts: 261
    The smith machine is a machine. It is not the same as a barbell despite having one as the apparatus you grip. Benching for real better strengthens your stabilizing muscles, allows your to bench in the more natural way; i.e. the way you're supposed to (when you bench, the bar shouldn't move straight up and down like in a Smith Machine), and overall makes you more manly and badass.
  • munkeyfunk
    munkeyfunk Posts: 141 Member
    Stick to free weights.....less chance of decapitating yourself..srs, and get good spotters, or bench in a cage with safety's. goodluck!!
  • Dizzle_65
    Dizzle_65 Posts: 249 Member
    Smith machine does not give you a natural range of motion. Therfore you are more likley to injure yourself.

    As others have said stick to free weights.
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    The smith machine is a machine. It is not the same as a barbell despite having one as the apparatus you grip. Benching for real better strengthens your stabilizing muscles, allows your to bench in the more natural way; i.e. the way you're supposed to (when you bench, the bar shouldn't move straight up and down like in a Smith Machine), and overall makes you more manly and badass.

    agree 100%
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    It's just not the same. It's kind of like jerking yourself vs getting a BJ. Both will help you get where you need to but one is a lot better.
  • bahacca
    bahacca Posts: 878 Member
    It's just not the same. It's kind of like jerking yourself vs getting a BJ. Both will help you get where you need to but one is a lot better.
    This explanation was FAN-TASTIC!
  • Shfiftyfive
    Shfiftyfive Posts: 261
    It's just not the same. It's kind of like jerking yourself vs getting a BJ. Both will help you get where you need to but one is a lot better.

    I would compare it more to jerking off with sandpaper vs. having a threesome (the good kind).
  • guppy1697
    guppy1697 Posts: 148 Member
    Thanks for the advice. I'm at a conference center for a few days and the smith machine was all they had so I was just wondering. When I get home and back to my gym I'll be getting back to free weights.
  • baptiste565
    baptiste565 Posts: 590 Member
    It's just not the same. It's kind of like jerking yourself vs getting a BJ. Both will help you get where you need to but one is a lot better.
    funny
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    It's just not the same. It's kind of like jerking yourself vs getting a BJ. Both will help you get where you need to but one is a lot better.

    possibly the best explanation ever
  • FormerMarine1
    FormerMarine1 Posts: 1,128 Member
    Advantages of free weights are stabilizer muscles do more work and can make you stronger. Disadvantages are you must have a spotter that you trust to grab the weight if you reach rep failure;
    On the other hand the advantages of the Smith machine are you don't need a spotter to go to complete muscle failure. Disadvantages are you leave out the stabilizer muscles, the exercise loses some benefit & some Smith machines are not smooth on the rollers and the clip may move while you are doing reps and smack the edge breaking your concentration. Be careful.
  • FormerMarine1
    FormerMarine1 Posts: 1,128 Member
    Good analogy, I like that!
  • ilovedeadlifts
    ilovedeadlifts Posts: 2,923 Member
    Advantages of free weights are stabilizer muscles do more work and can make you stronger. Disadvantages are you must have a spotter that you trust to grab the weight if you reach rep failure;
    On the other hand the advantages of the Smith machine are you don't need a spotter to go to complete muscle failure. Disadvantages are you leave out the stabilizer muscles, the exercise loses some benefit & some Smith machines are not smooth on the rollers and the clip may move while you are doing reps and smack the edge breaking your concentration. Be careful.

    This is true. But taking the main barbell excercises to failure isn't really a great option.
    Stop a rep or so shy of failure, then push up your assitance work like DB presses to the point of failure. Easy to just drop them.
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