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Originally Posted by steelerfan
The YMCA where I lift doesn't have a regurlar squat rack or cage. It only has a Smith Machine  !
Would hack squats be the best replacement for front squats? I have been doing regular sqauts in the SM, should I do something else for those also? |
Smith machines are the devil's work.
SM squats are probably better than any back-squat alternatives I can think of.
For front squats, though, here's a better choice than hack squats:
Grab a pair of DBs and clean them to your shoulders so they're perpendicular to the floor, with one end of each resting flat on each of your deltoids. Your upper arms are parallel to the floor, so the posture is much more like it would be for front barbell squat.
This gives you the same challenge to your core muscles and posture you get from the barbell version. If you can't clean weights to your shoulders that are challenging enough, you could ask a trainer or training partner or whoever's available to give you a hand.