Smith machines are very popular these days and have been for a while. Every decent gym has at least one of them. There are many people who enjoy wearing them, while others won’t go near them.

I really like using the Smith machine in my exercise routines, but I also think the cons outweigh the pros. So what exactly are the pros and cons of using this popular gym equipment?

Let’s start with the advantages. It is much safer than traditional free weights. You are guided by a linear path to follow throughout the movement, and the need for a spotter is reduced because you can turn your wrists and lock the bar in place on the machine frame. Another advantage is that you can usually lift more weight because you don’t have to stabilize the weight you’re trying to lift.

Let’s look at some of the cons. As stated above, you’re not using your stabilizer muscles, so you’re not getting as much as you could from your chosen exercise. There is no need to balance the bar, which will lead to underdevelopment of important core muscle groups. This, in turn, can make you more prone to injury during work-related or recreational physical activities.

He is the master of bad form. There really aren’t too many free weight exercises that use a straight up and down motion. Most have a slight bow or curve somewhere. Your body is not allowed to make any natural adjustments to the motion of the lift, which can cause muscle strains and tears.

Some other things to consider when using this equipment is that you won’t get as strong and big as quickly as you would from using free weights. It really all comes down to the use of your stabilizer muscles and their utilization during your exercises that will make a big difference in your performance and results.

However, due to the isolated range of motion, this machine is useful when returning to the gym after an injury. If you don’t like the idea of ​​a training partner, you’ll be better off too. However, keep in mind that the machine does not eliminate the need for a good spotter.

When it comes down to it, of course, it’s a personal matter that you’ll have to do yourself. I lean toward using the Smith machine in my routine because it seems to add balance to a workout. I like to use them at the end of a workout when I’m tired and not as strong as at the beginning.