Smith Machine vs Regular Bench

[StockRock]

This may come as a no brainer for the more expirienced members but id thought id ask..

I lift at my home gym and all i have avalible for bench press is a smith machine. Is it ok to bench on a smith machine or am i missing out? I am a member of the local ymca, but i do not like to train their because i cannot get in the right mindset to lift around other people who do not posses the same "gym ethics" as i do.

I will make the extra effort to go to a free-weight bench at the Y if im missing out.

Please let me know.

[Anoby]

free weight benching teaches ur body balance

[Young&Hungry]

A free barbbell bench allows for many more stabilizer muscles to be utilized, and you'll get a hell of a lot more out of it than a smith bench. However, I've been benching on a smith machine for the past year (only thing I have availiable at my gym) and I still have the second highest bench press in my grade.

[TheNaturalG]

This may come as a no brainer for the more expirienced members but id thought id ask..

I lift at my home gym and all i have avalible for bench press is a smith machine. Is it ok to bench on a smith machine or am i missing out? I am a member of the local ymca, but i do not like to train their because i cannot get in the right mindset to lift around other people who do not posses the same "gym ethics" as i do.

I will make the extra effort to go to a free-weight bench at the Y if im missing out.

Please let me know.

With any smith machine exercise you are stuck in a locked movement. Smith machine is good, but it is also good to have some free weight exercises to add some variety. It also doesn't help you increase your stability to much on exercises.

Honestly bro, you are most likely not gonna find a gym that has mostly members with the same "gym ethics" as you. Get some headphones walk in there and let nothing distract you.

[Mr.Totality]

gotta agree, using free weight movements targets more muscle groups and gives you the opportunity to learn balance

[spartan300]

This may come as a no brainer for the more expirienced members but id thought id ask..

I lift at my home gym and all i have avalible for bench press is a smith machine. Is it ok to bench on a smith machine or am i missing out? I am a member of the local ymca, but i do not like to train their because i cannot get in the right mindset to lift around other people who do not posses the same "gym ethics" as i do.

I will make the extra effort to go to a free-weight bench at the Y if im missing out.

Please let me know.

It would be prudent to not rely on any one movement for too long, However there is no substitute for free weight exercises.

[SomeDayI'llBeXL]

Im gonna agree with TheNaturalG. Very few gyms ive trained at dont have more than 2 or 3 people with the same mind set as us animals. You've got to look inward to find that disire to drive you. I walk in, fire up some Black Label Society on the Ipod and get down to business. People are probably gonna stare, but I love it and I have a feeling you will too.

You cant be the free weights. You could try alternating from week to week if you really dont want to be in your gym. Use the smith machine one week and then go to your gym and use a free weight bench the next. Good luck brother

[Hollow1]

I've got both at home and always bench using the free weights. For me it hits more of the targeted muscle group. The smith machine may be the safer route at home but it seems to be to confining.

[vIShuS]

With any smith machine exercise you are stuck in a locked movement. Smith machine is good, but it is also good to have some free weight exercises to add some variety. It also doesn't help you increase your stability to much on exercises.

Honestly bro, you are most likely not gonna find a gym that has mostly members with the same "gym ethics" as you. Get some headphones walk in there and let nothing distract you.

I agree with TheNaturalG on this one. Ive tried smith machine bench before, and its just not the same as a free-weight barbell. You're stuck on one postiion and it doesnt give you as much stimulation as a free-weight bench does. Also, like TheNaturalG said above, throw some headphones on with some Killswitch,slipknot,rammstein, or whatever you fancy and mabey that will help you black out the 'others' around you. hopeverything goes well with your training.

-SiSu

[StockRock]

thanks guys, i think im going to alternate from smith to free each week.

Natural G, i think a little ramstein and black label would probably block out others... ill let you guys know how it goes.

thanks again

[TheNaturalG]

thanks guys, i think im going to alternate from smith to free each week.

Natural G, i think a little ramstein and black label would probably block out others... ill let you guys know how it goes.

thanks again

It is all about finding a way to make it work bro, wether it is wearing pink spandex to the YMCA to help you fit in or if it is blasting head phones to block out the pink spandex people. I prefer the second one.... I hope most people here prefer the second one also lol.