Smith machine?
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My Y has a dual axis squat rack. Nothing wrong with this.
This is actually a type of Smith machine:
http://www.everythingfitnessequipment.com/gym-advice/smith-machine-shake-up-what-are-the-real-differences/
The bars that guide the path of the barbell have some movement to them, but the bar is still guided.0 -
My Y has a dual axis squat rack. Nothing wrong with this.
This is actually a type of Smith machine:
http://www.everythingfitnessequipment.com/gym-advice/smith-machine-shake-up-what-are-the-real-differences/
The bars that guide the path of the barbell have some movement to them, but the bar is still guided.
The bar is free to move up/down and front/back. ie.. dual axis squat rack. What is guided is the rotational. It's just fine. I used to powerlift in meets and there's just a small difference.
I've also squatted heavy with this machine and next week squatted the same heavy weight free weight style. It was comparable. I'd do free weight with this machine but my YMCA doesn't have a lot of spare bars to use so I don't do that0 -
Unless you want to work on your side to side stability without extra reps and sets of things. Interesting contraption tho, never seen one before. It's called a Y? Do you know Y? Is it to do with the axis it's stabilizing? If so cute idea.My Y has a dual axis squat rack. Nothing wrong with this.
The Y is short for YMCA. Sorry.
It's called a dual axis squat machine or dual axis smith machine0 -
Hubby is actually taking me to look at a commercial squat rack at some warehouse. It's more than he wants to spend. He still insists we don't have room for a cage.0
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Unless you want to work on your side to side stability without extra reps and sets of things. Interesting contraption tho, never seen one before. It's called a Y? Do you know Y? Is it to do with the axis it's stabilizing? If so cute idea.My Y has a dual axis squat rack. Nothing wrong with this.
The Y is short for YMCA. Sorry.
It's called a dual axis squat machine or dual axis smith machine
The contraption at our Y doesn't look like that.0 -
If it looks like this where the up/down motion of the bar is fixed, then I agree with everyone else. Better not to use it for squatting
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If it looks like this where the up/down motion of the bar is fixed, then I agree with everyone else. Better not to use it for squatting
Yep, and I have to make sure the hook is back or it stops.0 -
OP, does your gym have something that looks like these?
A weight bench for barbell lifting, with supports:
A squat rack:
You should have a spotter to bench on that type of bench, so just ask someone nearby to help you unrack and re-rack the bar and help it up when you cannot make it move upwards anymore by yourself. A squat rack of the kind pictured above should be almost as safe as a power cage for squats. You can also use the higher pins to do lifts such as the press, where you want the bar near your sternum for the starting position.0 -
When we got to the warehouse to see the squat rack, they had a cage too. We both noticed the cage would actually take up less room...so he bought it for me.
He also bought a bench there. I think we are going to buy the weights at ****s because his were more expensive. 0 -
Nice! The cage can also do a lot of other stuff with an adjustable bench. If you can find an attachment for pullups, that's an added bonus.0
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My Y has a dual axis squat rack. Nothing wrong with this.
This is actually a type of Smith machine:
http://www.everythingfitnessequipment.com/gym-advice/smith-machine-shake-up-what-are-the-real-differences/
The bars that guide the path of the barbell have some movement to them, but the bar is still guided.
Never mind. This is not exactly what they have at my gym. The one I use does not have the bar bell attached like a Smith Machine. It has adjustable "hooks" for the bar and uses a regular Olympic barbell. It does have the side rails though which I will now use in case I get in trouble and need to dump the weight.0 -
Nice! The cage can also do a lot of other stuff with an adjustable bench. If you can find an attachment for pullups, that's an added bonus.
It has it. It also has things to hang the weights on.0 -
When we got to the warehouse to see the squat rack, they had a cage too. We both noticed the cage would actually take up less room...so he bought it for me. He also bought a bench there. I think we are going to buy the weights at ****s because his were more expensive.
You're right down the road from me.....
Dick's has the Oly and free weight set 340lbs for 189 I think.... that's where I got mine a few weeks ago!0 -
When we got to the warehouse to see the squat rack, they had a cage too. We both noticed the cage would actually take up less room...so he bought it for me. He also bought a bench there. I think we are going to buy the weights at ****s because his were more expensive.
Awesome! I'm jelly. :flowerforyou:0 -
When we got to the warehouse to see the squat rack, they had a cage too. We both noticed the cage would actually take up less room...so he bought it for me. He also bought a bench there. I think we are going to buy the weights at ****s because his were more expensive.
You're right down the road from me.....
Dick's has the Oly and free weight set 340lbs for 189 I think.... that's where I got mine a few weeks ago!
Yes! I see you live in Charlotte. We went to the D1ck's at Northlake because the warehouse was in that area. Are you on that side of town? We live in Harrisburg, not far from the University area of Charlotte.
Yeah, that's where we got it. We got 300 for $209. They had a set with 225 for $189 but their sales change all the time.0 -
Dick's has the Oly and free weight set 340lbs for 189 I think.... that's where I got mine a few weeks ago!
Clever way of getting around the 7-words-you-cannot-type-on-MFP checker.0 -
I noticed the leg press mentioned a couple of times upthread as an alternative. I was somehow under the impression that it was better to squat with free weights and to avoid leg press - just as it is better to do bench press with free weights and avoid the machine bench press. Is it okay, after all, to use the machine leg press then? I have one in our gym but was avoiding it under the "machines are evil" assumption.0
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I noticed the leg press mentioned a couple of times upthread as an alternative. I was somehow under the impression that it was better to squat with free weights and to avoid leg press - just as it is better to do bench press with free weights and avoid the machine bench press. Is it okay, after all, to use the machine leg press then? I have one in our gym but was avoiding it under the "machines are evil" assumption.
Here's a nice article on some leg press-related stuff by Lyle McDonald.
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/squat-versus-leg-press-for-big-legs.html0 -
bumblebums - thanks for that! i am now keen on trying a one-legged leg press.
also read this : http://www.t-nation.com/free_online_article/most_recent/is_the_leg_press_worthless0 -
I noticed the leg press mentioned a couple of times upthread as an alternative. I was somehow under the impression that it was better to squat with free weights and to avoid leg press - just as it is better to do bench press with free weights and avoid the machine bench press. Is it okay, after all, to use the machine leg press then? I have one in our gym but was avoiding it under the "machines are evil" assumption.
Squats usually > Leg Press as a 'main lift', but leg presses have their place.0 -
Thanks Sara. Any benefit to doing both? If I am doing AllPro, can/should I do a set of Leg Press too, in addition to squats?.
Squats usually > Leg Press as a 'main lift', but leg presses have their place."machines are evil" assumption.
Also, can i use the leg press to do a calf-raise, since I don't have a calf raise machine?0 -
Also, can i use the leg press to do a calf-raise, since I don't have a calf raise machine?
You can do single-leg calf raises on an elevated surface or a step, holding (a) dumbbell(s) instead of a machine.0 -
Also, can i use the leg press to do a calf-raise, since I don't have a calf raise machine?
You can do single-leg calf raises on an elevated surface or a step, holding (a) dumbbell(s) instead of a machine.
Yeah, I do my calf raises standing on the floor, with a 45 lb plate in each hand, or dumbbells or kettlebells if I want some more weight. If you want a bigger challenge, try doing calf raises standing on one foot with nothing but dumbbells for balance.0 -
Thanks Sara. Any benefit to doing both? If I am doing AllPro, can/should I do a set of Leg Press too, in addition to squats?.
Squats usually > Leg Press as a 'main lift', but leg presses have their place."machines are evil" assumption.
Also, can i use the leg press to do a calf-raise, since I don't have a calf raise machine?
I would prefer the leg press over DB/plate variants since grip fatigue is not an issue with a leg press. Holding DB's you may run into a problem in that your grip can become fatigued before you calves do. This may not be an issue with some people but it certainly is for others.0 -
Thanks Sara. Any benefit to doing both? If I am doing AllPro, can/should I do a set of Leg Press too, in addition to squats?.
Squats usually > Leg Press as a 'main lift', but leg presses have their place."machines are evil" assumption.
Also, can i use the leg press to do a calf-raise, since I don't have a calf raise machine?
I would prefer the leg press over DB/plate variants since grip fatigue is not an issue with a leg press. Holding DB's you may run into a problem in that your grip can become fatigued before you calves do. This may not be an issue with some people but it certainly is for others.
Yeah, I think of my calf raises as a sort of standing farmer's walk. The reason I like doing them "free style" rather than on a leg press machine is because free calf raises train balance. Though I think I've seen a dude at my gym do calf raises with a barbell on his back, too.0 -
Thanks Sara. Any benefit to doing both? If I am doing AllPro, can/should I do a set of Leg Press too, in addition to squats?.
Squats usually > Leg Press as a 'main lift', but leg presses have their place."machines are evil" assumption.
Also, can i use the leg press to do a calf-raise, since I don't have a calf raise machine?
I would prefer the leg press over DB/plate variants since grip fatigue is not an issue with a leg press. Holding DB's you may run into a problem in that your grip can become fatigued before you calves do. This may not be an issue with some people but it certainly is for others.
Yeah, I think of my calf raises as a sort of standing farmer's walk. The reason I like doing them "free style" rather than on a leg press machine is because free calf raises train balance. Though I think I've seen a dude at my gym do calf raises with a barbell on his back, too.
Yep. Nothing wrong with any of the above, it just depends on goals really. For example one could make the argument that you could get better calf training by training calves without training balance because you could arguably load heavier/increase intensity by not having to worry about balance.
Now that doesn't make one approach right and another wrong -- they are different approaches and which one you choose should be goal dependent.0 -
This all great info. Thanks for the read, everyone who posted solid advice! I have one of those dual axis smith machines at my gym and tend to use that for deadlifts and squats and certain press variations. I know it's far superior to a reg smith machine since it moves front to back as well, but perhaps I'll move to power rack since I'm not as new at these lifts now and I think my form is pretty decent. I started out on this dual axis smith because it was much less intimidating. Just havent made the switch.
Anyone have thoughts on this? Is the difference just pretty much balance and stabalizer muscles not being worked with the machine I'm currently on? I dont think my form is really suffering on any of my lifts because I'm not using a power rack. I do have full range of motion. If anything I think it's helped me focus on form by being stablized side to side.....the main reason I chose to start out on that rack instead. But I have been relying on it for about a year now. Perhaps I should move on0 -
Thanks. Yes, I have that problem. My calves are tougher than my arms - so I could easily take on a higher load in a calf raise, but currently, if I hold a dumbbell (I do stand on a step and do them), I have a problem with grip and if I hold them with both hands, I lose balance.I would prefer the leg press over DB/plate variants since grip fatigue is not an issue with a leg press. Holding DB's you may run into a problem in that your grip can become fatigued before you calves do. This may not be an issue with some people but it certainly is for others.0 -
Balancing on a ledge holding a quarter ton has it's disadvantages.0
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OP: please do lobby for a cage or squat rack. I know you said you didn't think they'd listen to you. I've been pushing for one at my gym and have not gotten anywhere, but here's the thing: if nobody says anything, they won't change. And if only one person says anything, that one person looks like an outlier. Chances are, you won't be the first person to ask and who knows how many people it takes to get them to take action?0
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