When building muscle, is it best to use freeweights or weight machines ?

Question

Please name some advantages of both, thanks ~!

Answer 1

http://exercise.about.com/cs/weightlifting/a/freeweights.htm

Answer 2

:Freeweights:
Pros = Much cheaper than machines. Offer more range of movement and compound, functional exercises.

Cons = Can take up a lot of space if not managed. Somewhat easier to get injured with. Require more skill to use than machines.


:Machines:
Pros = Make it easier to have perfect form when performing exercises. Safe. Easy to move from one exercise to the next, and to adjust weights.

Cons = Tend to be expensive. Work muscles in isolation, which does little, if anything for functional strength. Do not have free range of movement.

Answer 3

weight machine -- actual lifting typically easier, easier to maintain correct form. you are limited to a narrow range of exercises with specified paths and ranges of motion. easier to change around your weight amounts if you are a first-time lifter or trying to do pyramid sets, drop sets, etc. machines are more likely to break.

free weights -- better workout in that you will make more use of stabilizer muscles in addition to the ones you're principally working. a little more risk of injury since you're not pre-stabilized. more efficient (you can switch from triceps to chest exercises or whatever by changing your posture, rather than needing to walk across the room and readjust another machine). intimidating for some people (but also looks more impressive). in some gyms, a few people hog the benches for long periods of time such that it's difficult to "work in" on the free weights.

so...i'd say free weights have the edge, but both are useful.

Answer 4

free weights will always be optimum. the body moves in 3 planes of motion machines only utilize 2. free weights allow more muscles to be stimulated as compared to performing the same exercise with a machine. machines can cause a condition called pattern overload as the same muscles are worked every time that machine is used and it does not vary with intensity.

for optimum results in strength or endurance a resistance training program based on free weights using compound exercises will always be optimum. machines should be used to supplement free weight training.

Answer 5

Free weights are better. They give you more free range of motion. Then again weight machines make you use the correct range of motion. The free weights work your muscles better though. So use the machines until you get the range of motion down for that certain exercise then switch over to free weights.

Answer 6

Either is fine, I think that you can do most of the exercises with free weights that you can with machines however your form is better controlled when doing the exercises with machines rather than free weights.

Answer 7

Both are good. Just remember to do exercises involving multiple muscle groups like bench and squat. The more muscle groups used, the more testosterone released (aiding in muscle production).

Answer 8

Freeweights for more focus.
Machines for more assistance.

Answer 9

weight machines