Good idea?

[JollyRogers]

I want to bench heavy weight for my bench press and get a feel for a heavy weight, would it be ok to use the smith machine to try it, I know the bench is better becuse you have to balence it, but you think this could help with going heavy on my bench, I could do partials??? like a board press? Im doing 315 on flat but i bet i could do more if i went on a smith, i never have done it before, id like to try it, what ya think?

 

[NWinters]

it would be best to use free weights, you said you want the feel of benching heavy weights, well IMHO, the smith machine feels alot different than free weights.

 

[JollyRogers]

I dont want to get crushed by the weight, I want to do partials

 

[NWinters]

then use a squat rack, and push from the saftey levers...like this http://www.asylum-strength.com/videos/wgrgpinpress.wmv

 

[JollyRogers]

my gym dont have one of those, only the smith and a squat rack

 

[louden_swain]

Don't want to get crushed by the weight??

Then start with a weight you can handle with good form.

The key is to work your way up, else you can burnout the CNS.

Training is about progression.

 

[louden_swain]

As for the smith machine and the regular free bench. . . these are two different exercises.

The smith really cannot help you with the regular bench.

 

[NWinters]

and get a spotter!!!!!

 

[Numani]

its a bad idea. the difference in the two exercises is huge.
get a spotter..do you train alone? if you train in a public gym you sure must know who is a competent spotter...

 

[Liftbig]

do board presses!