Comparing strength

[Robert Jan]

so....

 

[Robert Jan]

i bet people are gonna all vote for you can do much less when free, but i wasn`t quite certain as the required form for smith is a bit less efficient. however you dont have to stabilize. theres no rack in my gym so i have to smith squat, and i wanted to have some idea what weight i could start with when i free squat when i come to another gym

 

[vtec96]

I personally never use the smith machine .... All of my sets of squats are done free weight -- wouldn't have it any other way!!!

Free weights will build LOTS more muscles and strength than you could possibly get with a smith machine.....

I see people all the time put on many plates on the Smith as well at the leg press, but they cant free weight Half that amount!!!!

But in your case, I would just start lite, since Im not sure what your lifting now, I would say once you get your form correct, then try 135 in perfect form and go from there... Dont try to go too fast if you have never squated free weight before since it will be working muscles you haven't been used to working (abs, back, stabilizers, etc.) Good Luck....

btw, agym without even a basic squat rack??? I would find a new gym

 

[Greek Freak]

vtech's got it right...I have dont smith squats before, maybe 20 sets total in my 4 years of training. Stick to free weight squats, they are one of the best exercises out there and by doing them on the smith machine you kind of defeat the purpose(you turn it into a hack squat variation). I could def. free squat a lot more than smith because smith puts too much pressure on your knees, i would never go heavy with that.