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self spoting

rpacheco Posts: 3,770 Joined: 2001/12/13	2004/01/13, 11:15 AM Like they say, never as good as the real thing. But, they are better than nothing! -------------- **_Robert_** Pain is temporary; glory is forever!
mmaibohm Posts: 1,621 Joined: 2003/09/30	2004/01/12, 10:15 PM I am wondering are thoose self spoting cages that are set up with free weights as affective as the real thing. It's nice not having to worry about a spotter but if im not gaining from it then it's back to normal free weights.
	2004/01/13, 12:14 PM I have a cage but it really leaves a lot to be desired. The angle is bad for most bench press movements. On squats you still have to walk a little away from the rack to do the exercise. The cage does allow you to set the bar at the best height for a given movement. I had to roll the bar down my body one time when my alligator ambition overloaded my hummingbird ass. I am much more careful now. The cage is definitly the way to go if you work out alone. You just need to exercise extra common sense. -------------- Living well is the best revenge. Charlie
bigandrew Posts: 5,146 Joined: 2002/10/21	2004/01/14, 02:04 PM only thing bad about a smith machine9 that is i think ur talking about) is that u don't get to use the "control muscles) when u do presses, squats whatever u have to stabilize the bar and keep it level etc. the cage/ machine does this for you so it stays the same nto to mention the bar is counter balllanced so that the bar only weighs 15 lbs..........sop i suggest using it sparingly, i did a weight lifting comp in high school, an di worko out by myself and i used a smith machine, it was very differtn when i did the actual press because i was used to it being in a ' control gravity" environment man that bar was al over the place lol. i only maxed out at about 235 even though on a smith i could bench about 280, but again if u don't have a spotter beter be safe than sorry........i work out by my self with free weights and i do just fine, i don;t do what i knwo i can do.....nwo i can bench 225for 10 reps by myself with no spot, imagine what i could do if i had a spot:) work with in ur self, spots r there to assist u not left the weight for u , i see people doing liek 300lbs and only getting like 1 rep outta 5, good max lift but the spot geting a beeter up right row than th ebench presser is........my rule is if u can't do 80% the reps u need to lighten the weight,,,,,,,example u wanan bench press 200 for 10 reps.....u should get 8 of them by urself no assistance at all, the other 2 u can have a lil help on bu tthats just me though -------------- ---andrew.......adversity causes some to break, but others to break records! LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR!!