Like your standard barbell, an Olympic barbell also weighs 45 pounds and is about 7 feet long. The difference between the bars, though, is that Olympic bars have rotating sleeves , so you can use them for Olympic weightlifting moves like clean-and-jerks and snatches, says Wickham. The angled Smith machine bar at the LA fitness can take enough weight to support your high-intensity workouts. At the same time, the Smith machine can be used to perform exercises at starting weight of 20 pounds only, as the weight of this Smith machine bar is just 20pounds.
Planet Fitness has a limited free weights area, and it’s not ideal for people who enjoy strength training or anyone with more than a few months of training experience. I had weight training for a class this past year and we had free bars for bench, squat, etc. Schools been out for 2 weeks now and I’ve returned to planet fitness and their smith presses.
By the looks, length, weight plate compatibility, and weight capacity the Smith machine bar is almost like the Olympic weightlifting bar. The Smith machine weight bar is attached to clamps, bearings, guide bar, and rollers, so you cannot just check its weight on a weighing scale like you could with a free weight Olympic bar. We just recommend that you either ask an employee first so they know what’s going on or you do it during a time when not many members are there. There are three straight forward methods to measure the weight of a Smith machine bar. You can use a regular step-on bathroom scale, a hanging scale, or a rope with plates.
That said, if you are going to use a Smith machine regularly, then you will want to increase the weight over time, so knowing the baseline you are lifting is essential for progression. The barbell on a Smith machine has two hooks, one on each side, that rotate so you can lock the bar in place along a series of lockout points. This allows you to start with the bar at different heights and it provides a measure of safety for the lifter as they can quickly lock the bar to get out of an exercise. A Smith machine is a weight training machine with a barbell that is fixed within a set of steel rails, permitting it to move strictly up and down in a vertical path.
Places like Planet Fitness have even removed barbells, meaning Smith Machine workouts are one of your only options for heavy lifts. Smith Machines are one of the most common pieces of equipment in commercial gyms. Research published in December 2009 reported that free weights iew online classes triggered 43% more activation of the muscles than a Smith machine when performing squats. They’re used like curl bars, for exercises that use smallish amounts of weight. Their handles are designed so that you can choose the position that’s most comfortable for your wrists.