Yes. I try to combine them with free weights. Since i do U/L routine it can go like this >bench press/machine flies or dips/machine press for chest >pullups/machine row for back >Leg press and BSS for quads
etc.
I do free weight stuff first, then go to failure and focus more on contraction on a machine
Row is the one exercise that i just don't enjoy with free weights, it always feels off, like i'm using everything but my back. I actually really liked smith machine rows, but my new gym has awkward smith machines, so i moved on to cables and t-bar.
95% of the time no. DBs and BBs are vastly superior in most ways... people argue that machines let you develop strength by moving more weight but there is little point to doing that if you are giving no workout to all the minor supportive muscles, or developing crucial secondary skills like balance, good form, or proper "weight path." For example, good form on a barbell bench press will have you moving the bar in a curved "J-path" which is completely lost if you do all your training on a smith machine or pressing machine. Much of the time, these kinds of machines are forcing you into using certain form or moving in a way that is damaging and biomechanically incorrect. All in all, you are setting yourself up for hurting yourself or having shit form that you have to relearn once you move over to free weights. The only reason to use a machine imo is if it allows your muscles to be loaded in ways you can't with DB/BB. Some machines like that are: >lat pullover machine >leg extension machine >triceps extension machine
Others machines I use are: >cable towers for rows/pulldowns/pressdowns/straightarmpulldowns >leg press machine so I am not axially loading my back a la squats
You should learn on free weights, especially things like squats so you learn correct movement patterns. But there’s definitely a trend for advanced bodybuilders to utilize machines because the less you have to worry about balance and coordination the more you can focus on hypertrophy. The Bulgarian split squat for example is a great exercise but you’ll rarely see top bodybuilders focus on them because the amount of balance and coordination involved takes away from the ability to focus directly on the target muscles. Whereas smith machine squats ARE common among a lot of top bodybuilders because it’s the opposite, the machine takes away the need to worry about balance and they can focus directly on the quads.
i actually like to combine highly skill depended movements like pistolsquats/splitsquats, handstands a lot of ring work and l sit etc.
and than i jsut have days where i abuse myself on the machines just to get a great pump
get the best of both worlds
Same, I do handstand push-ups, one armed push-ups, etc. and I actually do do Bulgarian split squats most workouts. I just think the pendulum has swung too far toward being anti machines.
My gym barely has machines. The “machines” are just contraptions that you put physical weight on and there are no cables. The exceptions are the leg extension and cables
Yes. I try to combine them with free weights. Since i do U/L routine it can go like this
>bench press/machine flies or dips/machine press for chest
>pullups/machine row for back
>Leg press and BSS for quads
etc.
I do free weight stuff first, then go to failure and focus more on contraction on a machine
only rows
i do not know how half of the machines in my gym works
Row is the one exercise that i just don't enjoy with free weights, it always feels off, like i'm using everything but my back. I actually really liked smith machine rows, but my new gym has awkward smith machines, so i moved on to cables and t-bar.
This, I've started using cable rows instead of barbel rows and it just feels way better
hammer row, t-bar row and low row
95% of the time no. DBs and BBs are vastly superior in most ways... people argue that machines let you develop strength by moving more weight but there is little point to doing that if you are giving no workout to all the minor supportive muscles, or developing crucial secondary skills like balance, good form, or proper "weight path." For example, good form on a barbell bench press will have you moving the bar in a curved "J-path" which is completely lost if you do all your training on a smith machine or pressing machine. Much of the time, these kinds of machines are forcing you into using certain form or moving in a way that is damaging and biomechanically incorrect. All in all, you are setting yourself up for hurting yourself or having shit form that you have to relearn once you move over to free weights. The only reason to use a machine imo is if it allows your muscles to be loaded in ways you can't with DB/BB. Some machines like that are:
>lat pullover machine
>leg extension machine
>triceps extension machine
Others machines I use are:
>cable towers for rows/pulldowns/pressdowns/straightarmpulldowns
>leg press machine so I am not axially loading my back a la squats
Based and all true
You should learn on free weights, especially things like squats so you learn correct movement patterns. But there’s definitely a trend for advanced bodybuilders to utilize machines because the less you have to worry about balance and coordination the more you can focus on hypertrophy. The Bulgarian split squat for example is a great exercise but you’ll rarely see top bodybuilders focus on them because the amount of balance and coordination involved takes away from the ability to focus directly on the target muscles. Whereas smith machine squats ARE common among a lot of top bodybuilders because it’s the opposite, the machine takes away the need to worry about balance and they can focus directly on the quads.
i actually like to combine highly skill depended movements like pistolsquats/splitsquats, handstands a lot of ring work and l sit etc.
and than i jsut have days where i abuse myself on the machines just to get a great pump
get the best of both worlds
Same, I do handstand push-ups, one armed push-ups, etc. and I actually do do Bulgarian split squats most workouts. I just think the pendulum has swung too far toward being anti machines.
Retard.
My gym barely has machines. The “machines” are just contraptions that you put physical weight on and there are no cables. The exceptions are the leg extension and cables
Only lat pull down and only bc I'm too fat to do pull ups
Leg curls and extensions
>at home
only free weights
>at gym
mostly machines
Yes
Only for lat pulldowns because I’m too weak to do pull-ups. Everything else just seems like a needlessly complicated meme.
Machines are amazing for Chest growth.