Sorry, I think I used the term Split wrongly! I meant doing to different routines but both being full bodies. The reason I've put the leg curl in is because I'll be using a Smith machine for my squats so it's going to be a quad dominant movement and I just wanted to even that out with a hamstring exercise. Also, I was going to keep the routines virtually all compound exercises but you'd recommend some isolations as well?
Always. If you're looking for muscular development, you'll find all other things being equal you'll get better results by including direct work for the muscles you're trying to develop.
Phoenix wrote:
One more question - a lot of people seem to be against using smith machines for bench press or squats - what is your opinion on their pros and cons?
Benching and squatting in a smith machine are both fine, provided your technique is right.
Taking the squat, for example, people go wrong because they alter their technique by putting their feet out in front making it more like a hack squat, and then low and behold, experience knee pain.
Overall there's nothing worng with the smith machine. If you work out on your own and your gym doesn't have a power rack, go ahead and use it for squatting. If you work out on your owna dn your gym does have a power rack, you'll still need the smith to bench anyway as the power rack will cut your range of motion!
Thank you anthony, you're a star! One last question :)
Can you recommend how to do bent over rows? There seem to be different ways of doing them? Do you agree with the way it is shown here? or here?Should the weight touch the floor on each rep? And does it matter if I use an under or overhand grip?
Thank you anthony, you're a star! One last question :)
Can you recommend how to do bent over rows? There seem to be different ways of doing them? Do you agree with the way it is shown here? Should the weight touch the floor on each rep? And does it matter if I use an under or overhand grip?
I switch my hand grip for bent over rows, and deadlifts: one set over, and then one set each of left hand over, right hand under and vice versa. The variety just helps me concentrate a bit more.
Thank you anthony, you're a star! One last question :)
Can you recommend how to do bent over rows? There seem to be different ways of doing them? Do you agree with the way it is shown here? or here?Should the weight touch the floor on each rep? And does it matter if I use an under or overhand grip?
Second one's alot tighter. Underhand grip's best for the most back involvement. Same rules apply as the Lat Pulldown or Cable Row. Pull your shoulder blades back, and keep your torso braced and elbows in.
If the weight's touching the floor on each rep, you're either bent over past parallel, you have very big plates on there, or you have freakishly long arms! So no. :-)
If the weight's touching the floor on each rep, you're either bent over past parallel, you have very big plates on there, or you have freakishly long arms! So no. :-)
Anthony
LOL there was a video on stronglifts where he was touching the bar on the floor each time, which just looked wrong anyway.
