ShapeFit.com

[TONYMACK]

please could you tell me whether performing squats on the smith machine is much less beneficial than doing them with a barbell. I ask because I feel safer performing them on the smith machine (a question of balance)

[Boss Man]

Smith Squats, can use more weight, and are safer if you train alone.

However Freebar Squats have a slightly better range of motion as the Bar is not fixed.

I personally don't think Smith Squats, are too bad, and if you're worried about safety, do those instead.

[swanso5]

free bar squats is a million times better

even when training alone you can work up to using 95% of your max

free bar are also a million times safer...low back, knee and hips hate the range of motion that smith machine squats provide and will sooner rather than later, cause an injury or muscle imbalance somewhere...you also don't get the core workout either that you get with free bar squats

if worried about the wt then go light at first and also use lunge variations which will also have you working hard but with a much less wt

[adrianb]

If you're going for looks then it doesn't matter but the smith machine is genrally better for looks since you can squat more weight and since it doesnt involve stabilizers

If you're an athlete - do regualr squats as this training is more natural plus it also works your supporting stabilizer muscles

[swanso5]

i don't think you can squat more on a smith machine than free bar, i know i couldn't do it...initially you could but if you have crack and be consistent you'll quickly out grow it

[miller1089]

i actually do both, barbell followed by s/m squats. the prefatigue factor helps make you work harder. another thing with a smith machine is that you can stand far out infront of the bar and really nail your quads