Smith Machine Squats

Squatting at the Smith Machine reduces demands for balance, stabilization and form making it an excellent learning tool for beginners. Likewise, for bodybuilding applications, if a lifter wants to exhaust and isolate the thigh muscles without the demands on the core, such as in standard barbell squat, this machine can be very useful. It is important to note that the bar's track is typically not perpendicular to the ground (it is usually at a slight angle) so stance should be set with heels in front of the machine to prevent rounding the back in the descent of the movement. Form is otherwise very similar to the barbell squat with stance being slightly wider than shoulder width, toes angled slightly outward, knees out and hips back. See also: barbell squat