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ohawkey
ohawkey g Robert Fong
445 Post(s)
445 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: October 10, 2013
Posted

What do you think about using the smith machine for seated shoulder press? Sometimes I want to go heavy and I have no spotter. The hammer strength shoulder press feels awkward.

Smith machine has a bad rep because it doesn't use the stabilizers. I know the hodge twins had shoulder problems from benching with smith machine.

 

Should I do it or nah

Nipunsharma
Nipunsharma g Nipun Sharma
70 Post(s)
70 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: July 7, 2014
Posted
Posted By: ohawkey

What do you think about using the smith machine for seated shoulder press? Sometimes I want to go heavy and I have no spotter. The hammer strength shoulder press feels awkward.

Smith machine has a bad rep because it doesn't use the stabilizers. I know the hodge twins had shoulder problems from benching with smith machine.

 

Should I do it or nah

hey Robert

 

Like any other piece of equipment, it depends on the individual, I don't use smith a lot, and I don't like it much, i just use smith machine for barbell shrug behind the neck and sometimes for squats (when using heavy weight and there are no spotters).

 

Okay, pros are that it's safe, it does the balancing for you, and you can concentrate more on the muscle you're working and you don't need a spotter. A lot of guys report that they feel the muscles working more, if so, more power to them.

Cons are that because it does the balancing for you, your stabilizers aren't worked as hard as they should be. That's why when you switch back to free weights, your stabilizers and the nerve impulses aren't as strong as they could be, thus making you "weaker". The angled frame makes proper exercise form difficult and understates the importance of form. Compromising ROM can put strain on shoulder joints and may cause serious injuries if you are lifting heavy weight on smith. Now if your thing isn't strength, then it really isn't a big deal, but if it is strength, then the Smith won't help you get a big bench/press, only freeweight presses will. Just my opinion here.

The other problem is that for some guys, they get too "locked in" to the machine, and their muscles don't develop through a proper range of motion.I too tried using a Smith for shoulder press and incline bench but it felt unnatural, so I stopped using it.

However, it just depends from person to person. If you feel using a Smith or any other machine gives you greater gains, then thats what really counts cause whatever exercise/equipment works for you may or may not work for others and vice versa.

 

Hope it helps

Veni Vidi Vici : I came, I saw, and I conquered. Started Lifting December 2012, almost 2 years of lifting experience. Age 19, Pursuing Computer Science engineering.
Adawg38
Adawg38 g Aaron Henry
563 Post(s)
563 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: December 12, 2013
Posted

^Good reply there! I'd say if you used it sometimes only and kept other things in the rotation like military press seated or standing, bb or db ect theres no worries. A little bit of everything is good for you and keeps the muscles training.

I have been training coming up on 6 years and have made some great gainz. I've done a lot of trial and error on myself as well as learned from others and through research online. I've come along way in strength and size since I've started. I will continue to learn and make myself better each day. MS Athlete/Super Hermanite BEING CHALLENGED IN LIFE IS INEVITABLE, BEING DEFEATED IS OPTIONAL.
ohawkey
ohawkey g Robert Fong
445 Post(s)
445 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: October 10, 2013
Posted
Posted By: Adawg38

^Good reply there! I'd say if you used it sometimes only and kept other things in the rotation like military press seated or standing, bb or db ect theres no worries. A little bit of everything is good for you and keeps the muscles training.

Yes, I still do free weights. Dumbbell Shoulder press is always a staple, smith machines just something extra.

ohawkey
ohawkey g Robert Fong
445 Post(s)
445 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: October 10, 2013
Posted
Posted By: Nipunsharma

hey Robert

 

Like any other piece of equipment, it depends on the individual, I don't use smith a lot, and I don't like it much, i just use smith machine for barbell shrug behind the neck and sometimes for squats (when using heavy weight and there are no spotters).

 

Okay, pros are that it's safe, it does the balancing for you, and you can concentrate more on the muscle you're working and you don't need a spotter. A lot of guys report that they feel the muscles working more, if so, more power to them.

Cons are that because it does the balancing for you, your stabilizers aren't worked as hard as they should be. That's why when you switch back to free weights, your stabilizers and the nerve impulses aren't as strong as they could be, thus making you "weaker". The angled frame makes proper exercise form difficult and understates the importance of form. Compromising ROM can put strain on shoulder joints and may cause serious injuries if you are lifting heavy weight on smith. Now if your thing isn't strength, then it really isn't a big deal, but if it is strength, then the Smith won't help you get a big bench/press, only freeweight presses will. Just my opinion here.

The other problem is that for some guys, they get too "locked in" to the machine, and their muscles don't develop through a proper range of motion.I too tried using a Smith for shoulder press and incline bench but it felt unnatural, so I stopped using it.

However, it just depends from person to person. If you feel using a Smith or any other machine gives you greater gains, then thats what really counts cause whatever exercise/equipment works for you may or may not work for others and vice versa.

 

Hope it helps

Hmm okay, thanks. Good info. I guess I'll just do them once in a while.

jmboiardi
jmboiardi p John M Boiardi
2.6K Post(s)
2.6K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: October 10, 2013
Posted
Posted By: ohawkey

What do you think about using the smith machine for seated shoulder press? Sometimes I want to go heavy and I have no spotter. The hammer strength shoulder press feels awkward.

Smith machine has a bad rep because it doesn't use the stabilizers. I know the hodge twins had shoulder problems from benching with smith machine.

 

Should I do it or nah

Robert,

 

I agree with all the previous posts especially Nipun. I used to use the Smith Machine exclusively for squats and behind the neck press. While I experienced no shoulder or knee issues, I did experience balance and stabilizer issues when I switched to free weights. I now use the Smith Machine for these lifts occassionally and have cycled back in free bar squats, DB shoulder presses, and BB shoulder presses. My balance and stabilization is much better now and my muscles have responded in a postive manner because without the Smith Machine, these are "new" exercises to my body since it has been decades since I did them free bar style :-)

 

The Smith Machine is a good tool and offers benefits when used correctly and not used as the sole machine for any particular muscle group exercises. The key warning is NEVER use this device if you feel any discomfort or oddity in its motion with your body. This is what eventually leads to joint problems.

 

John

34 years of lifting and nutritional experience and resident "old man" :-) MS Athlete and past Super Hermanite since 2013.
JoeHurricane
JoeHurricane p Jordan Matthews
1.5K Post(s)
1.5K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: December 12, 2013
Posted
Posted By: ohawkey

What do you think about using the smith machine for seated shoulder press? Sometimes I want to go heavy and I have no spotter. The hammer strength shoulder press feels awkward.

Smith machine has a bad rep because it doesn't use the stabilizers. I know the hodge twins had shoulder problems from benching with smith machine.

 

Should I do it or nah

Like the others have said, using it is not terrible, but there are advantages to using free weights like DBs and BBs, especially stability.

 

If you could only use the smith machine because other things were taken, you may as well, its still going to work the muscle. Besides, it doesn't hurt to use it just to switch things up from time to time. But I wouldn't recommend basing a routine completely around it. I think it could be quite good for strength in terms of lifting as much weight as possible.

 

For gaining muscle, it's more about the volume of work and tearing the muscle than lifting as heavy as you can.

 

But by all means, give it a go, see what you think, and go from there. Use it occasionaly if you want to, but avoid making it a staple in your routine.

 

Of course, as John said, don't use it if you suffer any pain or discomfort from the machine.

SHF Athlete MS Athlete Partial Fitness YouTuber
ohawkey
ohawkey g Robert Fong
445 Post(s)
445 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: October 10, 2013
Posted

Thanks for all the info everyone!

muscular strength
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