Squat Rack vs. Smith Machine

If you don't KNOW why its better, then why do you want to replace it?

smith machines don't have the natural range of movement that a squat rack allows. Since the bar is on a sled, it can sometimes cause lower back issues for those who do it with wrong form, especially with heavier weights. It also limits the angle you should be going to do a good form squat

if you do a body weight squat, notice how much different it is from using the smith machine.

http://www.liftbigeatbig.com/2012/09/squats-barbell-vs-smith-machine.html
http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/avoid_lifting_injuries/The_Smith_Machine.php

Quoted from Menshealth:

"The Smith Machine

The myth: This machine—which looks like a squat rack with a built-in bar that runs on guides—gives you all the benefits of squats, but none of the risk that comes from holding a heavy barbell across your back. That’s because the bar can easily be secured at any point during the movement.

The truth: Because the bar runs on guides, you can only move straight up and down as you squat—instead of down and back, as you would in a free-weight squat. The result: An unnatural movement that puts extra stress on your knees and lower back. Need another reason to skip the Smith? Canadian researchers found that traditional squats produced almost 50 percent more muscle activity in the quadriceps than squats done on a Smith machine.

The alternative: If you’re not comfortable with barbell squats, simply do the exercise while holding dumbbells at arm’s length next to your sides. You won’t need a spotter, and your body will be free to move through the natural motion of the squat. "

Not only that- you can do more things in a squat rack- so more options.

OHP
Rows
DL off pins (assuming it has pins)

I mean if you could get a power cage that would be even better- but- well - you might be reaching.

it's a more flexible piece of equipment.

this++

(this++)++

Not only that- you can do more things in a squat rack- so more options.

OHP
Rows
DL off pins (assuming it has pins)

I mean if you could get a power cage that would be even better- but- well - you might be reaching.

it's a more flexible piece of equipment.

Don't forget that curling in a squat rack is the bees knees. Everybody should try it.

The Smith Machine goes up and it goes down in a 2d plane. It is pretty much a waste of everyone's time. At no point in your life are you going to replicate the motions done on a Smith Machine. Your body needs to learn how to use stabilizer muscles. The Smith Machine is just going to help you over develop a specific muscle group and then jack up (in a bad way) something else due the the imbalances it causes.

why? how does that sally machine make up for any of the other shortcomings of the sally? or since it's double axle, is this the shirley machine?

Wronkletoad wrote: »

why? how does that sally machine make up for any of the other shortcomings of the sally? or since it's double axle, is this the shirley machine?

LOL I see what you did there.

Some squat racks look more like a cage but they don't have the bars behind you, just the front and you can bench and stuff in them. My buddy has a nice Rogue Fitness one.

I wouldn't really say that the Smith Machine is safer by any means. The Smith Machine locks you into a range of motion that may not be fluid for your body and possibly even unsafe. There are stats on Smith Machine injuries, try Googling it.