Free Weights vs Machines

[Hungry4Life]

Do you guys generally use free weights, machines (hammer strength, cybex, etc.), or both?

What differences have you noticed with free weights vs machines?

 

[oldfella]

Do you guys generally use free weights, machines (hammer strength, cybex, etc.), or both?

What differences have you noticed with free weights vs machines?

I use both but lean in favor of free weights. They offer the body a better range of motion and will allow joints to work the way they were intended. machines lock you into a plane of motion that can be hard on joints sometimes. I do a lot of dumbell work except for legs!

 

[drob29]

Do you guys generally use free weights, machines (hammer strength, cybex, etc.), or both?

What differences have you noticed with free weights vs machines?

I use both but lean in favor of free weights. They offer the body a better range of motion and will allow joints to work the way they were intended. machines lock you into a plane of motion that can be hard on joints sometimes. I do a lot of dumbell work except for legs!

Agreed....but

I find that machines can really isolate a specific muscle, and although your not developing the supporting muscle strength, what your really doing is pushing the isolated muscle to failure which can be next to impossible with freeweights. Also, when moving alot of weight machines can be safer.

Shoulders are a good example. Seated dumbell presses, swinging a 120 lb dumbell up from a sitting position takes some concentration, and unless you have someone to hand them to you in position, can really stress your shoulder. I use the hammer strength seated shoulder press machine for heavy reps, 120 lbs or so. then I do seated dumbell press with the 90's as a follow up. Machines allow for safe heavy lifting.

Also IMO machines that act independantly are best, where you could (if you wanted) just raise the right side (or the left). Hammer Strength are great, some Cybex are nice as well.

Always mix it up, use both machines and free weights.

hope this helped

 

[Hungry4Life]

It did help. Thanks guys.

 

[thebrick]

I totally agree with Oldfella's advice. Free weights are best at building a good solid base + they force the lifter to use those important stabilizing, supporting muscles. Use machines for variety or isolation when warranted.

 

[Hungry4Life]

I use only free weights myself. But I see a lot of guys with pretty good builds using machines a lot. I will try mixing it up- keeping free weights as a base and machines for refining.

 

[6.8SPC]

I agree with drob, machines are especially great if you train alone ( ). You don't need to worry about dropping weights. I have been getting good results on the Hammer high rows, Hammer incline, and T-Bar Row machines. I don't rely solely on machines though and still incorporate free weights. I like to mix it up a little.