Smith machine squats

[Mr incredible]

I was training legs last night in the gym I have recently moved to, is great in terms of cleanliness, air quality, freeweights and general equipment with the exception of leg equipment.

There is no traditional 45 degree leg press or hack slide.

As a consequence I'm attempting to get back into squatting, last night I warmed up then begun free weight squatting on the squat rack, after a few sets my lower back was really tight and burning and I thought it might be useful to switch to the smith machine to do some front squats, as I find it lessens the load on my back and would isolate the front quads like hack squats do.

The problem is that on the upward motion, the safely hooks kept returning and so the movement kept jamming. Its a real annoyance when your busting a gut and something like that keeps going wrong.

Does anyone know of a way to stop the machine doing that other than getting someone to hold the hooks with their hand through the whole motion?

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[Jordan]

i know this isnt what you asked, but i say try to make free weight squats work for you. Theyre a better workout than machines. Try using a weight belt if your lower back is burning

[Mr incredible]

Thanks Jordan, I do squat freeweight, either doing 4 sets of 15 -20 reps or 4 sets working up to a heavy set of 360 to 400lb, 400lb for 6 good ones is my best yet.

Its not that I can't squat its just that sometimes I feel like there is more in my legs but that the pain in my lower back the fact that I have to balance cuts my set short.

Its not a bad paid, just a real muscle ache that is gone a couple of hours after. Perhaps I'd be better droping the weight for a real burnout set or doing sissy squats instead.

[BBAddict]

I take care of that problem (hooks catching) by initially putting the bar at the wrong location on my arms and then after I lift rolling it to the right location. This way if the bar stays on the right location on my arms, it will not catch. I definitely feel your pain though. This used to piss me off until I figured out a way around it.