Is The Smith Machine Good For Bench Press? (Vs Barbell & DB)

Is The Smith Machine Good For Bench Press Movements? 

The Smith machine is excellent for anyone training alone. It's generally safer than doing free weights with a squat rack or bench. It is also a suitable option for beginner lifters who are unsure of the correct form or their strength levels.

People use Smith machines for squats, bench press, shoulder press, hip thrusts, deadlifts, rows, lunges, and calf raises.  

The bench press on the Smith machine is one of the most common exercises. We recommend using the Smith machine for the bench press when training alone or as a beginner.

If you’re struggling to lift the weight, you can easily snap the barbell into place, which means you can lift weights without worrying about dropping the bar on yourself and causing an injury.  

The Smith machine can be as effective as a bench press with free weights. However, it has a more limited range of motion, which means other muscles are not as heavily engaged as in other exercises.

Related Article - Smith Machine Vs Power Rack Vs Squat Rack

1. Guide For The Incline Bench Press

Another excellent chest exercise is the Smith machine incline bench press. It adds another level of security and safety when doing the incline bench, which can be pretty dangerous.

The incline bench press with the Smith machine is excellent for targeting your upper chest. Also, because it’s safer, you can use heavier weights and do more reps without the risk of hurting your wrists.

Read More - Bench Press Vs Push Ups

2. Guide For The Decline Bench Press

On the other hand, it is also very suitable for the Smith machine decline bench press. This will target your lower chest. Because you’re lying at a 15 to 30-degree decline, it can be awkward to do this exercise on a standard bench.

However, thanks to its extra safety features, it’s a lot easier with the Smith machine.   

3. What about For The Flat Bench Press? 

The Smith machine flat bench press is also popular because it allows you to create progressive overload safely. This is a powerful way to develop your muscles over time without causing injury or strain. 

See Also - Bench Press Vs Chest Press

4. How About Close Grip Bench Presses?

Another bench press variation is the close grip Smith machine bench press. A Smith machine is an excellent option for improving your close grip bench form and progressing to higher weights. The Smith machine provides more stability for this exercise than free weights. 

Further Reading - Bench Press Vs Floor Press

5. Any Finally...Is It Good For Wide Grip Bench Pressing? 

You can also do wide grip bench presses. You will have much more stability and be able to perform the movement on the Smith machine in a very controlled manner.

This is beneficial if you’re a beginner and looking to ease yourself into the exercise without incorrect form.

How To Safely Bench Press Using A Smith Machine 

As with every piece of workout equipment, you should know how to use it safely, especially when learning how to bench press on a Smith machine. To do a bench press with a Smith machine, you must first set it up properly.  

Ensure that the bench is placed in the middle of the Smith machine’s barbell. Then you want to ensure that the barbell aligns with your mid-chest area. Then you will need to grip the bar shoulder-width apart.

Your bar should be unloaded and ready for you to put on the weight plates that you feel confident you can lift or challenge yourself with.  

Smith machine bench press form is critical when performing a bench press. Lie down on the bench and make sure that the bar is aligned with your mid-chest area, as we mentioned.

Ensure that your core is tight and your chest is up and out. Unlock the barbell and bring it to your chest before pushing it back up until your arms are outstretched once again. Once you’re finished, you can lock the barbell back in place.  

When you’re using a Smith machine, there are a few safety precautions that you will need to consider. Firstly, ensure that you don’t load the bar with too much weight. Even though the Smith machine is safer than free weights, overloading the bar with weight can still be dangerous.

If you’re a beginner lifter, you might be surprised and overwhelmed by the weight, leading to an injury.  

Secondly, you need to always be mindful of your form for every exercise. If you’re doing a Smith bench press and the bar is above your head, you risk injuring your shoulders or wrists instead of working your mid-chest. Lastly, ensure you know how to use the locking system.

Smith Machine Bench Press Vs Barbell & Free Weights 

The first main difference is the weight of the bars. In comparison, free weights like an Olympic barbell weigh 40lbs or 20kg. The Smith machine barbell is designed to be light and glide up and down the rails of the Smith machine. Smith machine bars weigh anywhere from 5 - 15lbs.  

The other main difference between the Smith machine vs free weights bench press is muscle activation. Free weights create more muscle activation—for example, your core muscles when you're doing a bench press with dumbbells or a barbell. 

With the Smith machine, it’s easier to increase weight because it requires less stabilization and energy to lift.  

Working out with free weights is generally more common because you don’t need a machine. All you need is a barbell, dumbbells, and sometimes a bench depending on the exercise. However, Smith machines take up a lot of space and can only be used by one person at a time.  

There’s a never-ending debate about which is more effective. And the truth is that they both have their own benefits. Smith machines can be a great way to practice form and build strength for beginners.  

The disadvantage is you don’t work out your stabilizer muscles as you do with free weights. For experienced lifters, free weights are generally the preferred type of equipment.

However, Smith machines can be used when trying to add on more weight when training alone or when recovering from injury.   

Smith machines are generally the safer option. With the locking system and the fact that the bar is light and on a rail that assists you while lifting, it’s the safer option of the two. But whether you’re using free weights or a Smith machine, it’s always important to warm up and set up the equipment correctly.

Read Also - Barbell Vs Dumbbell Bench Press

Common Smith Machine Workout Questions 

Is it better to squat with a Smith machine? 

If you’re not sure how to do a squat with a barbell or dumbbells, then a Smith machine is a great place to start. However, if you’re looking to target your legs more, it’s better to use a barbell. But there’s no correct answer here. It all comes down to which one you’re more comfortable using.  

Why are some Smith machines angled? 

Angled Smith machines are becoming more common. This is because they help focus on the pressing movements more accurately—for example, the angled Smith machine bench press. The bar will be at mid-chest, and when you push it back up, it will be almost above your shoulders. Hence why they’ve become popular among weightlifters.  

How much does a Smith machine bar weigh? 

Smith machine bars generally weigh a variety of different weights. Including 5lb, 10lb or 15lb. It depends on the manufacturer. Usually, it will say how much the bar weighs somewhere on the Smith machine. But it’s not a major concern because they are designed to be much lighter than barbells, which normally weigh approximately 40lbs or 20kg.

Related Article - Guide To Smith Machine Bar Weight