machines or free weights? [Forum Archive]

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machines or free weights?

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Posted by: scz

i have been using machines in my training including chest and biceps. But i have encountered a lot of trainers advising me that free weights are more effective and gives better results than machines. Is this true?

Posted by: Pylon

Free weights are generally thought of as better because they make you work more. Machines isolate muscles, while free weights make you lift and balance, using more of the surrounding stabilizers for each lift. They also translate into better overall balance and strength (in my opinion, anyway.)

That being said, there is nothing wrong with using machines in your w/o. Most people would tell you to use free weights as much as you can, and fill in with machines where you must. They are a great tool if you don't have a spotter, or are just starting out and need help keeping your form on track. Once you go to free weights, though, you may never want to go back...

Posted by: min0 lee

Both.

Posted by: DimebagDarrell

free weights are essential to building mass. machines dont give you the ability to train your synergist (stabilizer) muscles like free weights do.

Posted by: musclepump

Both are useful, but if I had to choose I'd go with free weights.

Posted by: BiggerNstronger

Machines are perfect if you dont ever have a spotter available. Dont even touch freeweights until you KNOW you can handle the weights and make sure there is someone around when you use them. They are not dangerous per say, but I have seen too many people go from machine to freeweights thinking they can lift a certain amount and find out that 200lbs on freeweights is much more than 200lbs on a machine. All that being said, even the most experienced lifters I know use BOTH.

Posted by: musclepump

To learn freeweights, use freeweights. But go light.

Posted by: Squaggleboggin

I've used both before, and the machines are basically to target specific muscles (once again, they don't use your stabilizers much, if at all) while free weights will by far build better core strength. If you're looking to specifically define certain muscles, go with machines; for overall strength and balance, use free weights. I now use nothing but free weights by the way; I feel they're far superior because I have nothing to specifically target.

Posted by: Newt

I think that both are important in a good workout. I use free weights for my strength excersizes and some machines for the isolating specific areas to finish out a good pump on my workout.

Posted by: min0 lee

I love hammer machines for certain exercises.

Posted by: Newt

Quote:

Originally Posted by min0 lee

I love hammer machines for certain exercises.

Me too.

Posted by: goal_500_bench

Please change your avatar with the person with the milk all overher mouth...it's disgusting.

Posted by: Duncans Donuts

Nautilus machines are great. Some of these other ones blow. Resistance curves (if that's the appropriate term) render most dumbell or barbell exercises useless in the strongest range of motion. If you get a good machine, it eliminates the ability to cheat, which is something probably seventy percent of all trainees do. I've seen people cheat up loads of weight on barbell curls without doing shit for their biceps.

Posted by: min0 lee

Quote:

Originally Posted by goal_500_bench

Please change your avatar with the person with the milk all overher mouth...it's disgusting.

You must be lactose intolerant.

Posted by: Squaggleboggin

Calm down man... milk is good for the bones and has protein too.

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