free weights vs machine

[Nooomoto]

I wouldn't and don't use machines unless it's the only way to do an exercise, or I'm injured. Machines limit you too much for any real progress to occur.

[Alphatier]

I wouldn't and don't use machines unless it's the only way to do an exercise, or I'm injured. Machines limit you too much for any real progress to occur.

Second that, I almost never do machines, except were I have to. Stick to free weights!

[BrokenBricks]

You can grow more muscle quicker on a machine in some instances.

Imagine a guy who's bench press is limited not by his pecs, but by his ability to stabilize the bar with his rotator cuff muscles. When this guy benches, his pecs are not getting a great workout. His stabilizing muscles are, and so it is vital he preform this free weight motion. But if he were to move to a machine that eliminated all but pec/tricep/front delt he would grow those muscles more quickly.

I choose free weights when I can because I want my muscles to be balanced. But if someone specifically wants to know what motion will make my pecs bigger more quickly, an isolation movement may be the answer.