machines or free weights?

scz · 04-25-2005, 04:24 AM

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?

Pylon · 04-25-2005, 05:29 AM

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...

min0 lee · 04-25-2005, 07:09 AM

Both.

DimebagDarrell · 04-25-2005, 12:39 PM

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

musclepump · 04-25-2005, 04:24 PM

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

BiggerNstronger · 04-25-2005, 04:30 PM

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.

musclepump · 04-25-2005, 04:44 PM

To learn freeweights, use freeweights. But go light.

Squaggleboggin · 04-25-2005, 06:21 PM

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.

Newt · 04-25-2005, 06:27 PM

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.

min0 lee · 04-25-2005, 06:30 PM

I love hammer machines for certain exercises.

Newt · 04-25-2005, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by min0 lee

I love hammer machines for certain exercises.

Me too.

goal_500_bench · 04-25-2005, 08:21 PM

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

Duncans Donuts · 04-25-2005, 08:46 PM

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.

min0 lee · 04-25-2005, 08:50 PM

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.

Squaggleboggin · 04-25-2005, 09:07 PM

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

04-25-2005, 04:24 AM	#1
scz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 3	machines or free weights? 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?
scz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 3	free articles free downloads free article submission free reciprocal link submission

04-25-2005, 05:29 AM	#2
Pylon Squishy Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Top 5!!! Posts: 6,478 Photos: 3	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...
	"For beverages, I only drink water or whiskey and when I’m drinking whiskey, it’s usually when I’m working out. It gives me the courage to lift more than I can when I’m sober." - C. Bratton

04-25-2005, 07:09 AM	#3
min0 lee Senior Member Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: The Bronx, NYC Posts: 33,783 Blog Entries: 3 Photos: 542	Both.
	How To Do The Perfect Bench Press Rep Bodybuilding and Lifting Weights, the Difference ironmagazine-frapper BONECRUSHER '08

04-25-2005, 12:39 PM	#4
DimebagDarrell Cutting sucks. Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Jacksonville Posts: 774 Photos: 4	free weights are essential to building mass. machines dont give you the ability to train your synergist (stabilizer) muscles like free weights do.
	cutting sucks.

04-25-2005, 04:24 PM	#5
musclepump Celebrity PersonalTrainer Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,666 Photos: 128	Both are useful, but if I had to choose I'd go with free weights.
	Let's all join together and SPEAK ENGLISH IN AMERICA.

04-25-2005, 04:30 PM	#6
BiggerNstronger this pic is not real Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ks Posts: 482	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.

04-25-2005, 04:44 PM	#7
musclepump Celebrity PersonalTrainer Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,666 Photos: 128	To learn freeweights, use freeweights. But go light.
	Let's all join together and SPEAK ENGLISH IN AMERICA.

04-25-2005, 06:21 PM	#8
Squaggleboggin Functional Lifting = Life Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 3,540 Photos: 3	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.
	Push yourself. Enjoy yourself. Be yourself. Knowledge is power. Obsessed with functional strength. Journal

04-25-2005, 06:27 PM	#9
Newt Drinking buddy Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 358	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.
	" I know a man who gave up smoking, drinking, sex, and rich food. He was healthy right up to the day he killed himself."-Johnny Carson

04-25-2005, 06:30 PM	#10
min0 lee Senior Member Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: The Bronx, NYC Posts: 33,783 Blog Entries: 3 Photos: 542	I love hammer machines for certain exercises.
	How To Do The Perfect Bench Press Rep Bodybuilding and Lifting Weights, the Difference ironmagazine-frapper BONECRUSHER '08

04-25-2005, 08:21 PM	#12
goal_500_bench Goal: Body of a Titan!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 75	Please change your avatar with the person with the milk all overher mouth...it's disgusting.

04-25-2005, 08:46 PM	#13
Duncans Donuts Stay puffed, baby. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: CA Posts: 2,774 Photos: 2	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.
	"in the howling bleeding nights, the dogs plunge into the Volga and swim desperately to gain the other bank. The nights of Stalingrad are a terror for them. Animals flee this hell; the hardest stones cannot bear it for long; only men endure."

04-25-2005, 09:07 PM	#15
Squaggleboggin Functional Lifting = Life Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 3,540 Photos: 3	Calm down man... milk is good for the bones and has protein too.
	Push yourself. Enjoy yourself. Be yourself. Knowledge is power. Obsessed with functional strength. Journal

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