Freeweights vS machines

[markrocooper]

at the gym i go to there is always a debate about whether free weight or machines are better. like people saying that deadlifts and squats are thr best then someone else will saying leg presses and machine calf raises are better.

who is correct.which ones give better results? can you all guve your thoughts in this please

[2guns]

use both

[ROADBLOCK]

hi mate squats and deadlifts are monstermakers :twisted:

[IronGame]

Yep both

[chchardgainer]

both for sure. machines are good if you have no-one to spot you when benchpressing heavy etc.... but you cant hit the muscles like squats and deadlifts on a machine.

[ohjoshua]

80% free weights 20%machines (for body building)

[Dumbelldog]

Use almost everything

[markrocooper]

we have no squat rack where i train what can i do instead of normal squats

[2guns]

i use alot of machines, i just joined a new gym and th machines are really awesome!

[big MAC]

i use alot of machines, i just joined a new gym and th machines are really awesome!

markrocooper needs to squat and dead and maybe even clean alot. Tell him that you munter!

Only thing I use machines for is to drive my butt to the gym and cook my steak!

[Cammo]

Free weights are by far the best option.

They work more stabilisers & they don't promote bad form like so many of the machines.

The more adjustable the machine is the better but generally they are still limited to a certain ROM that may not be suitable for the individual.

The only machines I ever use are the leg press (only ever after squats), the calf raise & the leg curl (only ever after romainian deads) although I'm thinking of dropping the curls shortly.

[frogie2001]

we have no squat rack where i train what can i do instead of normal squats

sounds like a rather lacking gym if their is no squat rack. what about a smith machine, that works well. if all else fails go the way of Dorian who used to fail on leg extensions and than go to leg press or squat.

if you have a leg press try different foot positions and gaps to get a range with in the leg development

[2guns]

markrocooper needs to squat and dead and maybe even clean alot. Tell him that you munter!

Only thing I use machines for is to drive my butt to the gym and cook my steak!

depends if he wants to look like u, or if he doesnt

[Pseudonym]

Machines have their place, particularly for for hitting angles or ranges of motion that would be hard to reach otherwise, but don't rely solely on them. They lock you into a set movement which has both advantages and disadvantages. Great if it's the right movement, but if the machine doesn't fit you properly, it will be forcing you into the wrong movement. It has to be a good machine that moves in the right way to target the right muscle - and everyone is built differently, so just because one person says they like a certain machine doesn't mean it's the best one for you too.

You don't really get that problem with free weights, and as others have said, free weights also develop stabiliser muscles and co-ordination.

i use alot of machines, i just joined a new gym and th machines are really awesome!

Which gym, and what brand are the machines?

[2guns]

fitness works, they are plate loaded so u use the plates as u would for bench press etc, kinda like hammer strength i think.

and the quad extension and ham curl work singulary for each leg so ive started doing individual leg stuff which is great

[Old Bull]

Gave this a bit of thought before replying.

As a Gym Owner, and what our gym is The Technical Term:

A Strength Training and Conditioning Facility.

Then machines have no part here, but to pay the rent I have about 5 machines. We follow the models in the States and Europe where machines are used for Rehab only, I have been tempted to put signs up like overseas that only if you are injured are you allowed on the machines. :nod:

We have 10 Powerstations, 200 20kg plates 2 Tonnes of Dumbbells, Olympic Platforms a lot of water, Kegs, Swiss Balls, and coming shortly Dumbbells and Logs which are water filled.

But this is the area that we are targeting, so machines are not part of what we do.

But in saying that, Machines play a major part in the fitness Industry, and are needed. BBs in particular need these machines to hit specific areas same as we need water and other implements to hit those areas we are targeting.

The Plate Loaded units out now are just about replicating free weight movements, and with variable resistance and cams it is pretty hard as BB or weight trainer to not use these as opposed to free weights.

The only problem as Pseudonym stated is that Machines are generic in manufacture, designed for a certain or typical body/height/weight type. So some would work better depending on torso and limb length.

You would need both Machine and Free Weight, depending on what you are aiming maybe one a bit more than the other.

If it is your choosen sport hit both they compliment each other.

OB 8)

[blairandkelly]

we have a few hammer strength machines at our gym , i use them now and then in conjunction with free weights , for me though squats , deads and bench are always free weight first and machine after

[ngapuhi strong]

Gave this a bit of thought before replying.

As a Gym Owner, and what our gym is The Technical Term:

A Strength Training and Conditioning Facility.

Then machines have no part here, but to pay the rent I have about 5 machines. We follow the models in the States and Europe where machines are used for Rehab only, I have been tempted to put signs up like overseas that only if you are injured are you allowed on the machines. :nod:

We have 10 Powerstations, 200 20kg plates 2 Tonnes of Dumbbells, Olympic Platforms a lot of water, Kegs, Swiss Balls, and coming shortly Dumbbells and Logs which are water filled.

But this is the area that we are targeting, so machines are not part of what we do.

But in saying that, Machines play a major part in the fitness Industry, and are needed. BBs in particular need these machines to hit specific areas same as we need water and other implements to hit those areas we are targeting.

The Plate Loaded units out now are just about replicating free weight movements, and with variable resistance and cams it is pretty hard as BB or weight trainer to not use these as opposed to free weights.

The only problem as Pseudonym stated is that Machines are generic in manufacture, designed for a certain or typical body/height/weight type. So some would work better depending on torso and limb length.

You would need both Machine and Free Weight, depending on what you are aiming maybe one a bit more than the other.

If it is your choosen sport hit both they compliment each other.

OB 8)

now thats a gym if there was one like that im my town id have a bed in the corner and never leve :nod:

[Dumbelldog]

I found this.

Bonehead workout mistake #6: Using mostly machines and single joint/isolation exercises

So you joined the gym and you hit “the circuit”… you know, that section in the gym with all those fancy, chrome-plated, “technologically advanced” weight stack-pulley, hydraulic or computerized machines all lined up in neat rows… far, far away from the barbells and squat racks (which you never touch), and which is designed to give you an “easy, safe, injury-free, effective full-body workout.” The machines may be easy, but most machines aren’t as safe or effective as they’re cracked up to be.

Kick butt workout tip #6: Use mostly free weights and compound, multi joint exercises

For lower body, squat and lunge variations are tops. For upper body, barbell and dumbbell presses, chin ups and rows are king. These and similar “BIG” exercises stimulate more muscle fiber, stir up more fat burning and muscle building hormones, and have more carry-over to real world and sporting activities than machines. Although weight stack machines are safe with respect to the fact that you cant drop a barbell on your head, they’re ultimately NOT as safe as free weights because they don’t develop the stabilizing muscles and functional strength that protect you from injury. A few machines and isolation exercises mixed in your program is fine, but focusing on compound and free weight exercises gives you far more bang for your buck than any machine ever created.

[Pseudonym]

My gym just spent God-knows-how much buying a dozen of these machines...

http://www.hoistrocit.com/products/sele ... -1102.aspx

The ROC-it machines by Hoist feature a unique rocking motion as the entire machine tips back and forth with each rep. More importantly, you can tell it's they're serious machines because they come complete with towel and drink holders. :roll:

[mike-311]

only machines I use is the lat pull-down and seated row to finish my back after ripping my self to bits with dead lifts. and smith for heavy shoulders cos I dont have a spotter.

However I dont really class machine movements as necessary enough to actually keep track of what Im lifting on them each week, only taking note of weight increases and reps/sets on free weight compound exercises.

Seated Smith shoulders is the only machine movement I keep record of.

[Marcus]

Gave this a bit of thought before replying.

As a Gym Owner, and what our gym is The Technical Term:

A Strength Training and Conditioning Facility.

Then machines have no part here, but to pay the rent I have about 5 machines. We follow the models in the States and Europe where machines are used for Rehab only, I have been tempted to put signs up like overseas that only if you are injured are you allowed on the machines.

We have 10 Powerstations, 200 20kg plates 2 Tonnes of Dumbbells, Olympic Platforms a lot of water, Kegs, Swiss Balls, and coming shortly Dumbbells and Logs which are water filled.

But this is the area that we are targeting, so machines are not part of what we do.

But in saying that, Machines play a major part in the fitness Industry, and are needed. BBs in particular need these machines to hit specific areas same as we need water and other implements to hit those areas we are targeting.

The Plate Loaded units out now are just about replicating free weight movements, and with variable resistance and cams it is pretty hard as BB or weight trainer to not use these as opposed to free weights.

The only problem as Pseudonym stated is that Machines are generic in manufacture, designed for a certain or typical body/height/weight type. So some would work better depending on torso and limb length.

You would need both Machine and Free Weight, depending on what you are aiming maybe one a bit more than the other.

If it is your choosen sport hit both they compliment each other.

OB

Awesome setup OB, but where are the mirrors? :pfft:

Wish they had a gym like that here.

[Marcus]

I use a mixture of freeweights & machines in most of my routines. I always start with freeweights when my stabilisers are fresh & finish with machines just to tax the muscle a bit more.

[Old Bull]

Awesome setup OB, but where are the mirrors? :pfft:

Wish they had a gym like that here.

We have ONE :pfft: and sometimes there is a line up for it :nod:

It is Named the James Mirror after the guy below who spends most of his time in front of it.

OB 8)

[Dumbelldog]

What A winner. :grin: