smith machine?

What exactly is a smith machine? can someone show me a picture?

A smith machine slides up and down on shafts. The bar pivots so that the attach hooks can catch on the safeties.

The machine restricts the range of motion so some people like them. The downside of this motion restriction is that your balancers and stabilizers are not used and strenghted the way they would be doing non-restrictive presses.

[image]local://143/507BE953C8174A69A5DAB39BDC7B6C8D.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

Basically, I only like the smith for a couple of exercises- Shrugs and calf raises. They each have very limited range of motion anyway, so you're not missing out on much. When you do squats, shoulder presses, bench presses, etc. with a smith machine, you're missing out on all sorts of benefits.

They are helpful though if you don't have a spotter. Greatly reduces the chance of dropping something on your head.

1001, 1002, 1003. Ohh, it's a deep burn! It's so deep! Oh, I can barely lift my right arm because I did so many. I don't know if you heard me counting, but I did over a thousand.

how much does the bar weigh on a smith machine

ORIGINAL: That DUde718

how much does the bar weigh on a smith machine

Usually the same as a standard barbell.  I weighed mine last time I had the thing taken apart, and it clocked in at 37.5 pounds.

However, some Smith Machines (like the one pictured above) have cables attached to the bar, which are in turn attached to counterweights concealed inside the support columns, thereby eliminating the weight of the bar from the total.

My home away from DBB

a 7 foot bar weighs 45 pounds but some smith machines i have seen the, on the ends of the bar it is plastic so its probably less than 45 pounds

I have one at my gym, seems the bar weighs almost nothing. I don't have a spotter so i do use it for squats, bench, lower/upper when not on DB days. seems to be good, makes your chest sore, that's good enough for me

Anyone have detailed instructions on how to use this thing?  I've seen it at the gym many times but I tried to use it but I couldn't figure it out and didn't want to look stupid in front of everyone so I gave up.  (I'm kind of a meathead.)  I dont do squats because I have gout and I fear that my sore feet will cause me to be imbalanced and hurt myself so I've been getting by using the hack squat, leg press, and dumbell sumos. 

I tried googling but to no avail.  Can someone help me out or are they all made different?  Am I going to have to get over myself and ask someone at the gym?  

No, I'm not on steroids but thank you for asking.

All you want to do Jon is follow the natural path the smith machine allows you to take whter you slide a pad under for benching, etc.  I use them for standing calf raises b/c I found that I can use a higher weight and it really isolates the calves.  Its great for spotterless lifts but I tend to stay away from it b/cv it takes all the fun out of squatting!