Is it okay to use the smith machine for squats (heavy weight until failure)?
So most times I don’t have a spotter at the gym who can help me when I squat heavy, so I use the smith machine. I do low reps, heavy weight. to failure because I’m increasing my leg power for jumping/running explosiveness. Also, I workout my stabilizer muscles and my endurance alot by playing the sports that I play and condition for all the time. That being said, is it okay I’m losing whatever advantage I’d otherwise get from free barbell squats, if it means I can lift heavy and to failure on the smith machine? (note: I wouldn’t get much from not lifting to failure for squats since I strengthen my legs in not so extreme ways by doing other things). Experienced athletes’ input very much appreciated.
You should be fine. If you only used the smith machine I’d say something about the stabilizer muscle issue, but you seem to be on top of that already. The other thing if you were only using the smith machine is that your body isn’t following it’s true arc of motion up and down which could lead eventually to some wear and tear injuries, but if it’s only a couple/few times a month I would say you are fine.
The other idea would be to lower the weight and rep it out on the days your partner isn’t around to spot you. I spent much of my life only lifting heavy and once in a while taking time off to rep out some exercises can provide a good shock to the system to induce more muscle growth when you go back the to heavy weight/low rep exercises.
Also, do you have a powerlifting cage available to you? You are just as safe in there going until failure…actually probably more safe in a cage going to failure than you are with a spotter. It just takes a while to get past that fear of failing on that last rep in the cage without a spotter present to really feel like, “Hey…I failed on that last rep and I’m still okay.” It’s actually quite a freeing feeling once you can get past that mental block of not going 100% when a spotter isn’t around.
Good luck.
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