Smith Machine Squat: A Trainer's Perspective

Ask a room of trainers whether the Smith machine squat is safer than the free barbell squat and you will get a fight. One camp says the fixed bar path removes the balance demand and lets a beginner or a fatigued lifter load the legs without the risk of tipping. The other says the machine forces the body to follow the bar instead of the bar following the body, and that the "safety" is an illusion that comes at the cost of the stabilisers you actually want to train. This article sets out both arguments and checks them against what has been measured.

Want to read more?

Subscribe to ohanaperformanceinstitute.com to keep reading this exclusive post.

Subscribe Now