Free Weights vs Machine

T

timothyparuku

0
I hear one site telling me machine is alright then another site saying machines are horrible. and on one site, one people was saying this and another was saying that. So I am confused, what gives you better results?

and if free weights ARE better, can someone give me some exercises and pictures showing how you can do them. thank youu, i am a total noob. :eek:
 
1stly. You'll only hear good things about machines from people that sell them. Machines are only to be used if you have an injury and have been told by a doctor or theripist to use it.

Use free weights. have a read round the forum. there are a million and one reasons for this.

And check out exrx.net the weight training section and the workout body maps.
 
Ive made great gains actually with a combination of machines and dumbells. I can lift more weight with free weights (bench press) than i can with the machine. I can beinch 180 pounds using free weights but can only do 150 using the machine.
 
That’s a common misconception. You cant lift more weight with free weights than you can on the machine, it does not make sense. The reason is that the leverage and the pulleys on the machine make the weight as heavy or as light as the manufacturer wants it. The “weight” on a machine means nothing, because its not realistic.
Lma1973 – You may have made great gains with a combination of the two. But the fact is you would have made even better gains if you had stuck with the free weights and dropped the machines.
The problem with machines is that they only allow for one plane of direction. With a shoulder press your only pushing up, and letting the weight down. However with free weight you have an unlimited plane of direction, when the weight is in the air you could drop it behind you, in front or to ether side, or any degree of direction in-between. This keeps all your stabilizer muscles fit and healthy, plus, it’s a very import skill if you think about the process…
1 – the weight is falling to one side
2 – your nerves sence that the weight is dropping to one side.
2 – your brain then has to process this information and decide which muscles to use and how much tension will be needed to stabilize the weight.
3 – then your brain implements this function.
You see its not just your body that your working out, its your mind as well. This is very important when it comes to using the strength you have made in the gym.
 
Not all machines are created equal -- some have features which mimic dumbell use (such as the Inspire M2 which has options of using either fixed-track handles or free-moving handles, as you see fit). And many machines can easily be modified to have free-moving handles.

If a machine runs smoothly (like my M2), then it's great for rehab [so if you get a machine, ensure that it's assembled properly -- some company representatives just slap 'em together & leave you with an expensive hunk-of-junk (I had this happen to me once); others are careful to assemble things properly & leave you with a valuable body-building tool].

Machines can be great for home use by an individual in part because they eliminate the need for spotters. I can remember back to my solo barbell bench-pressing days when I had to roll the bar off to one side to avoid being pinned (even choked) once tired... this doesn't happen with a machine; & settings can make doing top-end partials easier once tired (for those times that you want to push yourself a bit further).

Weight-changes are much more simple (quicker, easier, & more safe) than changing weight-plates on a barbell -- but then that also means less exercise (as you're not manipulating those plates)... & this also means less chance for injury due to improper manipulation (a double-edged sword of sorts).

There are pros & cons for every type of apparatus (& for non-weight exercises as well). If you can find a use for something (anything) & then use it to your advantage, then you're doing well for yourself.

Do something (whatever you chose) & do it wisely/safely & you'll most-likely be better-off than if you do nothing at all or something foolish/unsafe.

Good Luck with Your Choice(s)

P.S.: If you opt for free-weights, think dumbells & think EZ-bar moreso than straight-bar to lessen risks of wrist & elbow injuries
 
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I did a little research on free weights compared to machines.

The main question for me was - get some free weights and use them at home, or sign up to my local gym - (the local gym where I live is a **** hole, they don't even have a bench press, the only free weights they have are light ones.

Also, my right pec is ever so slightly stronger than my left pec and using dumbells would help to balance them out (so I read somewhere)
 
Thats up to you. personally I like to workout at the gym.
At home I got the laptop and phones and its too much of a deistraction. I like to get in the gym, no laptop, no phone, just me and the heavy stuff.

If your gym really is that bad then get dumbells and a hanging bar and a bench. spend as much as you can afford. You really do get what you pay for when it comes to weights.
Steer clear of these expensive machines, The will advertise how much they are like dumbells and how you dont need a spotter but forget all that. Machines will never be as good as free weights and You dont need a spotter unless your doing something stupid. I only have a spotter when I'm trying something really heavy.
I'm sure you could find someone to watch you once a month.

And dont worry about changing the plates over all the time. You should be restting for atleast 90seconds between sets, thats plently of time to change the plates, have a drink and have a strech.
 
I think im able to lif more weight using free weights because i have my stablizer muscles aiding me. When i use the machine, its one plane of motion and i dont have the aid of stabilizer muscles therefore all the weight is being concentrated on the working muscle at hand.
 
i dont have the aid of stabilizer muscles therefore all the weight is being concentrated on the working muscle at hand.
Click to expand...

That is a great observation. Machines are a good tool if you want to target a specific muscle group. A lot of bodybuilders will use machines when they are doing isolation work.
 
Machines will give better visual results then a free weight exercise for a specific muscle group, but after a while will leave you more prone to injury. Also, getting stronger on the machines will not translate into functional strength much at all. If you know when to utilize each type of machine, bb, and db then you will do much better than simply picking one.

Combination ftw.
 
Machines are great when starting out, i know it helped me ease into a gym routine. But since i moved over to free weights and cables (you guys forgot about mentioning those) my gains have much easier and faster. The only machine that i use now is the bicep curl (helps fill out the t-shirts a little)
 
Free weights
Pros
They are cheap
They work stabilizer muscles
You can work Virtually every muscle with free weights
They fit in a very small space
You can always add more weight as you get stronger

And many more but i feel the point as been made

Cons
You might drop one.
Some exercises "should" be done with a spotter

Machines

Pros
Some machines can lower the risk of injury (such as squat machines that will auto hold the weight if you drop to low)
They can be cool looking
A spotter is no longer needed

cons
They are expensive
They do not work stabilizer muscles
They are usually To large
They are a hell of a lot of work to put together
They usually do not deliver a constant amount of force through the entire motion
They have a risk of "breaking"
Different muscles require different machines
Machines typically have a maximum amount of resistance they can offer
 
One problem for many machine users is training in the same grove/tract without sufficient variation -- over time this leads to injury; one solution is to mix-up ones training periodically. Some machine manufacturers have also found ways to prevent a lot of this (both Body-Solid & Inspire make models that allow for a lot of free-motion exercises rather than all just fixed-tract exercises).

Some machines are engineered/designed better than others & each design has an affect on the resistance felt at any given point.

I like many types of exercise apparatus -- I even make my own when I can't find what I want (as a matter of fact, this morning I just completed modifying a Body-Solid Triceps Chair to double as a Biceps Chair for dumbell & some machine-cable work -- it's sweet). There's a lot of hokey contraptions out there, & a few good ones as well (this statement is especially true for abdominal-training contraptions). Buyer beware -- & it's best to be able to try out an exercise doo-dad before you buy it (as often sales-pitches are just unfounded hype).

With free-weights you may get what you pay for, but sometimes you can get the stuff on sale (or slightly used & quite inexpensive). Sears (formerly Sears & Roebucks) & even JC Penny used to sell inexpensive, plastic-coated starter weight sets of about 120-125# for about as many bucks (barbell & dumbell kits). If you go this route, then consider that you may need to purchase some extra collars (as they always seemed a few short) & some extra plates (some very-light ones for progressive-resistance training & some heavy-ones for heavier exercises &/or for when your strength increases); of course, if you can afford it, you can get some York weights (or a brand of that ilk) & have 'em for life as such are high-quality, durable weights (unlike the plastic-covered plaster weights which eventually crack).

Also, there's a lot of free or near-free training-aids all around; things like a couple of sturdy chairs for doing parallel-bar dips, or step-ladders, stair-cases, &/or sturdy benches for doing step-ups (with or without weights). If you've got a good imagination & an eye for safety, then you'll find many ways of improvising/adapting & saving bucks.
 
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