The Infamous Smith Machine.

[blackbeltbill]

  Bollenbach's Gym had a Smith Machine. I went to that Gym a good 25 years straight.  I used it a few times. Definitely  not comfortable to go extremely  Heavy with. You are Locked right in there.  Definitely  need a Spotter there as well. Most members,I saw use the Smith Machine used relatively  Light Weights and had no Problem.  I never attempted  to Squat 405lbs for 10 reps on the Smith Machine- but went to the Squat Rack instead. 

  Video below that,I saw today shows the need for a Spotter even in the Smith Machine. Anyone here ever use the Smith Machine?

 

[blackbeltbill]

 

[blackbeltbill]

  A number of Women liked to use that Smith Machine at the Gym. Most Men though hit the Squat Racks.

[Jeremy K]

I was always a big fan of it for doing military press,I just felt safer when increasing weight.

[lucky118]

Doing squats without a spotter is insane. Same for anything heavy. Just asking for trouble.

 

[dbHunterNY]

i didn't know what you were talking about until i watched the video. i used them in college when getting coached on proper form and position to do squats and other exercises (benchpress, military press) when starting out. That video seems odd though. All the ones I've used, including the one I had in my home gym setup, had adjustable height stops. The trainer in college even said they have everyone use them. even elite athetes. they really lack in developing all the little muscles used for stabilization though, which are just as important.

[Nomad]

I’ve used them, like any machine it locks you into the plane of the machine,which is a negative for me. 
 

They had to put a sign on the one at the gym,because people , were doing stupid things on it, like laying under it and doing single leg presses .

My experience is it is more favored by women , kinda like me .

[Moho81]

Nice machine to use when you don't have a spotter.