free weights vs machine

[jbm]

In bodybuilding point of view. when you are bulking which is better free weights or machines?

[T-MOS]

I prefer free weights over machines.

free weights make you control the weight more thus also increasing your stabilizer muscles JMHO

[xlxBigSexyxlx]

They both serve their purpose, but I keep mine majority free weights.


For example, flat flyes.
With dbs, when you come to the top with them, you really really don't feel it (no stress). But with cables, there is no stress when spread out, but pulling to the top you feel it a lot more.


If that makes sense...lol,

[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.

[Matt]

My weights are never free, the gym owns them...

[fit4ever]

Perform slower reps on the machines. That way it'll better simulate a free weight. Because strength is not all about creating momentum. It's about being able to move and stabilize resistance through the positive and negative movement of the exercise.

[GT2]

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.

[TheJuicer]

There are good mach. and there are machine that are worthless. I've noticed in my gym they have 4 diff. companies that make there machines. Hammer Strength and Nautilus are the best. Its all about trial and error. If you try a machine and it doesn't feel like it hits the muscle hard then you know that, that machine isnt for you.

[AdamGH]

Along with the other comments, check out the guys in the gym that look good to you. Are they using machines mostly or free weights? That should answer your question as well. I myself use Free weights mostly, but I have a few cable exercises I work in.

[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

[FireGuy]

No disrespect taken whatsoever, these forums are for sharing opinions.

[green22]

I like em all.

[boxer1]

def free weights should be the base of your training in respect of bulking, however i like to use machines to mix things up, hit the muscles from diff angles, and as we all know if you keep the muscles guessing youll never get stale and make better gains.

[Phate]

they both have a definite place

i find that i much prefer free weights at the start of training and on several exercises where they are more beneficial(due to not being restricted in movement)

but there are also several machines at my gym i love because they follow a specific path of motion that targets the part of the muscle i want to work and allows me to concentrate solely on the contration and mind-muscle connection thus getting a better overall set

[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.

[Tigershark]

I like using both as well.

[Big_dean]

see when your lifting lets say chest. you may fail on a set but it may not be your pecs that fail it may be others around it. so using machines will let you target that area. no im not saying i like them but they do have there place.

[Aaron-the-pitbull]

Oh my god you don't know how glad I am to see this post. I myself have only ever used machines, i look good and have a very ripped body, but i never noticed how much of a less affect they have over free.

To be honest also I have noticed people join after me and go past me in size and weight.

Thanks guys for this post, i'm going to change my whole training on saturday and hopfully see better gains

[xavier_888888]

Good post JBM! Free weights all the way here.

[kickinit]

They both have their uses, plus injuries its nice to have machines around.

[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 .......

[jbm]

Good post JBM! Free weights all the way here.

Thanks bro...

[tyward]

This is an excellent post jbm. I've primarily used free weights over the years primarily because most of the machines hadn't been invented yet. LOL Although now and then I change things up just for the heck of it and because of injury of course.

[Ronnie Rowland]

They both serve their purpose, but I keep mine majority free weights.


For example, flat flyes.
With dbs, when you come to the top with them, you really really don't feel it (no stress). But with cables, there is no stress when spread out, but pulling to the top you feel it a lot more.


If that makes sense...lol,

I agree..

[jbm]

This is an excellent post jbm. I've primarily used free weights over the years primarily because most of the machines hadn't been invented yet. LOL Although now and then I change things up just for the heck of it and because of injury of course.

Thanks! tyward... lolol!

[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.

[xnotoriousx]

I enjoy only a very small amount of the machines. I either use them for the end of my workout when i'm to beat up to stabilize free weights and need to get the last exercise in. Or, i'll use them to super set, it's tough sometimes super-setting 2 free weight exercises so i'll do my heavy compound movement then jump on a machine and bang out till failure.