Whats wrong with starting out with the smith machine?

Whats wrong with starting out with the smith machine?

Doing squats on the smith machine puts a lot of pressure on your lower back, especially if your form is bad

You won't build confidence. Fledgling rock climbers fall to feel the safety of the rope. New squatters ought to fail in the Power Rack to observe the safety pins catch the bar.

If you fail a squat in a Smith machine, you're pinned between the floor and the bar.

you don't stabilize the weight yourself which means the movements don't recruit as many muscles and therefore aren't as efficient. could lead to muscle imbalance. there's also a bit of risk involved with the fixed bar path potentially forcing you into a bad movement.

the good way to start out is to start out with low weights.

It is inferior.

I struggle squatting the bar.

...

Then do air squats.

training bar. failing that, a broom.

could also just do air squats as the other user said but since proper squat form also involves arms and hands I'd suggest having something to put on your back.

No shit nigga it's the gym it's meant to be hard