Smith machine squats vs Leg Press - Ausbb

Morgan · 03-07-2009, 09:51 PM

I have been doing both lately just to get a feel but I am starting to think that the leg press is better,

I noticed as I am going heavier with squats (120kg+) I am starting to get funny feelings in my knees/lower back, I have had my form checked by multiple trainers and they say it's AOK, do you guys think it'd be a bad idea to drop the squats and just go super super heavy on the leg press for 3 sets? I just dont know if squats are for me?

So far I plan on.

Leg press OR squats
Deadlifts
Calf raises
Hamstring curls

What do you guys/gals think?

Cheers, Morgs.

upg · 03-07-2009, 10:33 PM

why cant you do BB squats
smith squats are not a substitute and promote bad form

i would BB squat, BB front squats (if you feel your quads are smashed enough) leg press with feet at top of plate (emphasis on hamstrings) and then do hamstring curls/leg extensions if you wish

calves i like to train heavy at least 2 times a week. they are a stubborn muscle to grow

i do deadlifts on back day. you will be limiting how much you can lift by doing them after squats. i would devote another day to them when your legs are fresh.

Morgan · 04-07-2009, 12:27 AM

I dont do BB squats because they dont have a squat rack at my gym, their BB's only go to 40kg so that's no help either, sadly it's smith machine or nothing.

My legs are never fresh, because on my non-weights training days I run, so my legs are generally buggered 6 days a week.

So you think leg press over smith machine squats?

upg · 04-07-2009, 04:10 AM

so they dont have olympic bars where you can load up on weight?
only fixed weight bars?

if so you could try lunges with heavy DB's in each hand

Morgan · 04-07-2009, 04:36 AM

Yep, They do have Oly bars, but how does that help me? I've still got no where to rack it.

Shrek · 04-07-2009, 11:10 AM

Time to find a new gym.
As UPG said, smith machine squats are not a good substitute for BB squats only a variance on the odd occasion.
Still, at least you are smashing legs in some way unlike many who skimp out altogether.

Morgan · 04-07-2009, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shrek

Time to find a new gym.

Ohhhh, but I love my gym, 80% cardio users and the weights section is always quiet

I'll see how the legs develop, on my new program starting Monday I'm doing

Leg press
Static lunges
Calf Raises
Leg curls

Hopefully that does the trick

Cheers guys.

03-07-2009, 09:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
Morgan Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Melbourne Gender: Posts: 382	Smith machine squats vs Leg Press I have been doing both lately just to get a feel but I am starting to think that the leg press is better, I noticed as I am going heavier with squats (120kg+) I am starting to get funny feelings in my knees/lower back, I have had my form checked by multiple trainers and they say it's AOK, do you guys think it'd be a bad idea to drop the squats and just go super super heavy on the leg press for 3 sets? I just dont know if squats are for me? So far I plan on. Leg press OR squats Deadlifts Calf raises Hamstring curls What do you guys/gals think? Cheers, Morgs. __________________ Morgan says "Don't waste your high testosterone levels while you are young doing a sissy cut, BULK!!!"

04-07-2009, 12:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
Morgan Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Melbourne Gender: Posts: 382	I dont do BB squats because they dont have a squat rack at my gym, their BB's only go to 40kg so that's no help either, sadly it's smith machine or nothing. My legs are never fresh, because on my non-weights training days I run, so my legs are generally buggered 6 days a week. So you think leg press over smith machine squats? __________________ Morgan says "Don't waste your high testosterone levels while you are young doing a sissy cut, BULK!!!"

04-07-2009, 04:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
Morgan Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Melbourne Gender: Posts: 382	Yep, They do have Oly bars, but how does that help me? I've still got no where to rack it. __________________ Morgan says "Don't waste your high testosterone levels while you are young doing a sissy cut, BULK!!!"

04-07-2009, 11:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
Shrek Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sydney Gender: Posts: 3,581	Time to find a new gym. As UPG said, smith machine squats are not a good substitute for BB squats only a variance on the odd occasion. Still, at least you are smashing legs in some way unlike many who skimp out altogether. __________________ Cheers Adrian "Don't spend much time listening to someone talk about something they have never done." Introduce Yourself

03-07-2009, 10:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
upg Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Perth, WA Gender: Posts: 191	why cant you do BB squats smith squats are not a substitute and promote bad form i would BB squat, BB front squats (if you feel your quads are smashed enough) leg press with feet at top of plate (emphasis on hamstrings) and then do hamstring curls/leg extensions if you wish calves i like to train heavy at least 2 times a week. they are a stubborn muscle to grow i do deadlifts on back day. you will be limiting how much you can lift by doing them after squats. i would devote another day to them when your legs are fresh.

04-07-2009, 04:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
upg Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Perth, WA Gender: Posts: 191	so they dont have olympic bars where you can load up on weight? only fixed weight bars? if so you could try lunges with heavy DB's in each hand