The downside of the Smith machine is its fixed nature that isolates muscles. The upside of a Smith machine...is its fixed nature that isolates muscles. A Smith

The downside of the Smith machine is its fixed nature that isolates muscles. The upside of a Smith machine...is its fixed nature that isolates muscles. A Smith machine is essentially a universal, versatile isolation machine. A single Smith machine can do the job of a suite of selectorized iso machines in a far smaller overall footprint. It's the equivalent of the barbell and power rack, but for isolation exercises instead of basic compound exercises.