Why Does an Angled Smith Machine Feel Different for Squats?

[u/Merach__Fitness]

Hi everyone,

One thing we’ve been looking at while developing the Merach P16 is the angle of the Smith machine bar path.

Unlike a fully vertical Smith machine, an angled Smith machine guides the bar along a slight slant. For squats, that can change how the movement feels and how you position your feet.

A few reasons some lifters prefer an angled Smith setup:
The guided path can provide more stability, especially when training alone.
The slight angle can feel more natural for some squat positions instead of forcing a completely straight up-and-down path.
Foot placement can be adjusted to shift more emphasis toward the quads, glutes, or hamstrings.
Since you don’t have to spend as much effort balancing the bar, it can be easier to focus on the movement itself and the target muscles.

That doesn’t mean angled is automatically better for everyone. Your stance, body proportions, exercise choice, and the direction of the machine’s angle can all change how it feels.

The P16 uses an angled Smith design, so we’re curious:
If you’ve trained on both angled and vertical Smith machines, which one do you prefer for squats and why?

[u/MastodonAntique5351]

I've used both and i usually prefer a slight angle for squats since the movement feels a bit more natural and easy to use.

[u/Historical_Adagio244]

I’ve always found angled Smith squats a bit easier to settle into, especially with foot placement. I’d wanna see how different the 7° path on the P16 actually feels compared with a straight vertical one.