There are absolutely no excuses for doing a standing or sitting cable fly. Despite what companies like Bowflex may tell you, the inherent instability of cables makes them imperfect for targeting muscles in a precise way, and the fact that you must stabilize yourself inhibits your ability to lift heavily and efficiently. Cable fly machines tend to force athletes to burn more calories simply stabilizing the cables than they do actually performing the exercise, a ridiculous trade-off that deserves no place in a decent exercise plan. Just use a barbell like everyone else.
Tags: barbell, cable fly, exercises, smith machine, squat, stupid, tricep extension, waste of time, weight lifting
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Well written. I would have to agree. I try to not do exercises that will put me in a crazy position. I hate to see people doing some of this shit. Another that comes to mind is the behind the head lat pull down. I still see it done and sure don’t know why. I am in the mode of protecting my joints. I have a slap tear that has been a huge problem because of a crazy ROM I chose one day. Thanks for the article.
I agree with most of the exercises included in this list, especially the Smith machine. The more research I do, the more I realize that there’s really no good use for this machine. I don’t know how some of these exercises survive and make it into workouts this day in time.
The smith machine is fine for inverted rows. Pullups or chinups are sometimes possible too, depending on the amount of head clearance.
Uh, rows are not for the biceps. They are for the back muscles. In that they involve pulling rather than pressing, they affect the biceps but that is certainly not their first intention.
Absolutely correct – fixed. I have no idea why I wrote that.