What is the difference between a squat rack and a Smith machine?

Squat rack and Smith are both anaerobic exercise equipment and strength fitness equipment. They are both used to train strength. Their appearance is still very similar， and Smith machine is also known as "deep squat". "Squat rack", so the two are very similar. Many people go to the gym and can't figure out which is a squat rack and which is a Smith machine. Anyway, both can practice squat and strength, so squat rack and Smith machine Where is the difference?

  What is the difference between a squat rack and a Smith machine?

1. Different safety performance: the squat rack is very monotonous, it is a separate rack without protection measures, while the Smith machine has protection measures, it has protection bars, the barbell is fixed, and the training equipment is fixed. If you use a Smith machine when practicing squatting, if you are tired from practice and suddenly drop the barbell, the Smith machine will not fall off due to the effect of cushioning, and it will be safer; on the contrary, if you practice squatting with a squat rack , If you are tired from practicing and suddenly put the barbell down, the barbell will fall directly and hurt you, causing injury. Therefore, the Smith machine is much safer than the squat rack. If you are not strong enough, you should use the Smith machine to practice. Squat to avoid injury due to lack of strength;
2. Different methods of use: If you talk about the method of use, the Smith machine is relatively monotonous. The use of the Smith machine is very simple. If you want to practice squatting with the Smith machine, you can directly and easily remove the barbell and squat on the spot. , after the exercise, you can easily put the barbell back, the operation method is very simple; but if you train with a squat rack, you need to remove the barbell first, and then you can't squat in place, you have to move forward , and then squat. After the exercise, carefully put the barbell back to the original position. It must be placed in the same position. You must make sure that the barbell is stable before you can lower the barbell. It is often difficult for one person to operate. , you need someone else to help you with the operation, so it is very troublesome to use the squat rack, so the Smith machine is easier and safer to use than the squat rack。
3.  Different training effects: In terms of training effects, the effect of the squat rack is better than that of the Smith machine. Because the Smith machine has lever protection measures, people will not sway or shake during squat training. You need to control the direction yourself, so the balance ability of the body and muscles is reduced, and Smith's barbell has a buffering effect, so the body does not need to bear too much weight, so it will reduce the weight of the barbell on the body, so as to make yourself There will also be less exercise requirements, so the effect of squatting with a Smith machine will be lessened; on the contrary, if you squat with a squat rack, the squat rack has no support at all, so you can only use your body and arms to squat Support, all the weight of the barbell can only be borne by yourself, so your weight will become very large soon, and the squat rack cannot keep the body balanced, so it will sway when exercising with the squat rack , you need to keep your balance by yourself, but after a period of time you can naturally keep your balance, which can make your body coordinate better. Although the squat rack does not have some support and help from the equipment, it can make people progress more. Fast, it is also the best choice for exercisers, so in terms of exercise effect, the squat rack is better than the Smith machine training effect.