free weights vs machine

[FireGuy]

Machines don't do anything for me. I grow rapidly when I stick SOLELY to free weights. Unless you have freaky genetics, you won't grow any muscle exercising with machines. If something is easy, comfortable, and nice to use, i.e. machines, it won't build muscle. Building muscle is a HARD and EFFORT-DRIVEN process.

Stick to free weights ONLY for 3 months, and you WILL notice a huge difference.

So Leg Press, Hack Squats, Lat Pull Downs, Seated and T-Bar Rows wont grow any muscle? I know we all want to come across as hard core and I agree free weights should be the foundation most weight training programs but machines serve a good purpose.

[StritationOrBust]

So Leg Press, Hack Squats, Lat Pull Downs, Seated and T-Bar Rows wont grow any muscle? I know we all want to come across as hard core and I agree free weights should be the foundation most weight training programs but machines serve a good purpose.

Agreed especially for pulling exercises its hard to hit some areas when you get to advanced training.

Stick with the free weights when your bulking though.

[strength_addict14]

Hammer stength equipment is not too bad at the end of your workout to iso with.

[xlxBigSexyxlx]

Compound free weight exercises are where its at.

But like I already stated, machines have their place in a routine.

[GT2]

So Leg Press, Hack Squats, Lat Pull Downs, Seated and T-Bar Rows wont grow any muscle? I know we all want to come across as hard core and I agree free weights should be the foundation most weight training programs but machines serve a good purpose.

If you do build any muscle using machines, it will be very very minimal compared to the muscle you will build doing freeweights alone. Machines have their place in 2 situations: when you're in the final weeks of prepping for a show and aren't going to be building any more muscle and don't want to risk injury, and when you are trying to rehabilitate a certain body part in a safe and strict manner using light weights.

[FireGuy]

If you do build any muscle using machines, it will be very very minimal compared to the muscle you will build doing freeweights alone. Machines have their place in 2 situations: when you're in the final weeks of prepping for a show and aren't going to be building any more muscle and don't want to risk injury, and when you are trying to rehabilitate a certain body part in a safe and strict manner using light weights.

Sorry man, I think you are way off base with your statement. We have several national level competitors at our gym as well as 2 IFBB pro's and I guarantee you they all use machines year round. I am not saying they are superior but you can build a lot of muscle with the exercises I listed above.

[GT2]

Sorry man, I think you are way off base with your statement. We have several national level competitors at our gym as well as 2 IFBB pro's and I guarantee you they all use machines year round. I am not saying they are superior but you can build a lot of muscle with the exercises I listed above.

FireGuy, I'm not trying to be difficult, I respect you as a bodybuilder and you provide excellent insights and information on this board.

However, in my original post, I stated "Unless you have freaky genetics, you won't grow any muscle exercising with machines." I don't doubt the pro's and national level competitors use and grow off machines, I know they do. My point was, people at that level GENERALLY have amazing genetics, and are able to build muscle using machines, free weights, or whatever. For the average joe with medium genetics, they are best off using free weights to pack on the most mass in the shortest amount of time.

In my first two years of training I stuck to SOLELY machines and I grew like a weed. I started to "experiment" by throwing in some machine movements, and I gained no extra advantage, I was simply wasting time. Once I switched back to solely free weights, I started to grow again. My diet stayed the same throughout. People have asked me for advice and I've told them to stop machines entirely, and they all told me they started to grow once they did that. I.e. they gave 100% effort to each free-weight exercise, because they were doing less exercises, and knew each set and each rep had to count. If you give yourself 20 sets to stimulate growth on a bodypart, you will give 50% intensity. If you give yourself 6 sets, you know you only have 6 chances of stimulating growth, and will therefore give 110% of your effort. Simply put, the "less is more" philosophy. At the end of the day, each to their own. If you grow off machines, continue to do so. But if your genetics are average, I'd experiment dropping machines altogether and focusing all your efforts on your free weight exercises.

I don't think we're in disagreement, simply a misunderstanding

[skitz1]

However, in my original post, I stated "Unless you have freaky genetics, you won't grow any muscle exercising with machines."

I disagree. Stating that you won't grow any muscle exercising with machines is a pretty ridiculous statement. Your body will adapt to resistance, and machines provide resistance. Sure, the muscle growth won't be as rapid and machines won't be able to subsitute for free weight compound exercises but it is complete rubbish to stay that you won't grow any muscle. Machine flys have always given me better muscle growth than dumbbell flys. Similarly, the Lat Pulldown machine has always provided me with good back growth. I have far from freaky genetics.

[jimmyinkedup]

So Leg Press, Hack Squats, Lat Pull Downs, Seated and T-Bar Rows wont grow any muscle? I know we all want to come across as hard core and I agree free weights should be the foundation most weight training programs but machines serve a good purpose.

good input and i agree .......