whats the difference between free weights and machines?

[LUCAS]

Can anyone tell me what difference there is between free weights and machines eg. barbell calf raises as opposed to a calf raise machine. will it effect my results if i use a machine?

[Loochi]

All I can say is, every exercise or machine or whatever has it's own merits and downfalls... So use and experiment with all.

[Beef]

not much for calves.. its just preference. but for other muscles using a machine eliminates the use of the stabaliser muscles that you use when you're doing free weights. bodybuilders generally use free weights cus the machines dont go heavy enough!

[Draft]

My opinion is that, often, machines force you into fixed, unnatural movement patterns - proper form with free weight is less likely to cause injury. Also, as Gymsta said, since free weights force you to control and balance the weight. This builds more muscle than machine (particularly the muscles used to stabilise the weight), which balance the weight for you.

[teamfatboy]

My 2c worth - involving core muscles/ stablisers is an important advantage to free weights.

Another difference is consistency - a 20kg round plate is 20kg (generally) but various brands of plate-loaded machine use differing ratios of leverage, and different plate weights.

The leverage means you can't always compare eg a Hammer Strength Chest Press with a barbell press kilogram for kilogram, and you can't necessarily assume that "six plates" on a Hammer Strength is the same as six plates on a Nautilus or a Life Fitness...

[ThePman]

Depends on what you want out of it.

As far as muscle growth is concerned, tension is tension. It doesn't matter if you create resistance from a barbell, a dumbbell, a machine, or just about anything else. As long as the muscle group in question is exposed to sufficient tension stimulus, it'll grow (assuming the other important factors are in play).

When you start talking about strength gains and whatnot, that's when stabilization (really a function of movement skill) becomes important. And it's not something to ignore either, because the overlap in strength gains and size gains is fairly substantial.

That said, as long as you've got an indicator lift or two for each "body part" there's no harm in using machines or whatever else for the rest of your work.

[Mr_Krabs]

Im with Pman on this tension is tension. I train alone and do mostly compound free weight work but when I want to push myself past failure I have to use a machine for the last set or two, still wastes the muscle in question but is much safer so Im not gunna get pinned under a BB :grin:

[PTinCHCH]

free weights bring other muscles into play and teach your body natural motion.

it brings in allot of synergist muscles and stabiliser muscles, teaching your body how to balance and stabilise itself.

machine weights you get to kind of take the subconscious thinking out of a workout. neurologically.

at the end of the day, free weights are better.

however, start off on a machine if your not confident doing an exercise. build muscle and confidence then free weight the shit outta those exercises.