Quote Originally Posted by buff999
anyone think that the french press seated machine or the seated tricep extension machine is a good workout sub for free weights? I know i have heard its not, but i feel a beter contraction on the muscle when i use the machines, better discipline on the reps......

just wondering other opinions.....
The beautiful thing about a machine is that it follows the course of the excersice properly! BUT, it doesn't hit your MUSCLES (plural, since usually free weight includes more then one or at least stabilizers) like free weight does. My suggestions to people who don't feel free weight like they do machines, is to drop the weight and perfect their form! Only then will you feel it 10 times more then machines! Also Charles Glass once said "machines should only be used in preperation for a contest". Basically what he means is that the foundation should come from free weights, THEN use machines to fine tune the muscle when the time is right!