Does anyone here use fixed weights when they work out, or only free weights? Are there actually any advantages to fixed weights over free weights?

throw_em_all · 2016-01-08T17:58:11+00:00

Fixed weights as in machines? I only use two machines, leg press machine and pulleys for back and triceps, but my main lifts are free weight compounds, I only do a couple of machine exercises and they're all accessories.

edit: Pulleys are good for drop sets and for back if you can't do good volume with pullups.

RedPharaohRising · 2016-01-08T18:23:28+00:00

Fixed weights are good for isolated weaknesses. Like if your pull up is being limited by your forearms, or if your squat is stalling because your hamstrings aren't as strong as your quads

Dr_D1amond · 2016-01-08T18:13:29+00:00

machines are never as good as free weights but for certain accessory exercises they can be useful (rear delt machine, leg press to add in some leg volume, cable machines for face pulls etc)

The smith machine is best used for hanging wet clothes.

AEther_Flux · 2016-01-08T18:50:46+00:00

I don't know a lot about lifting yet, but from what I understand free weights are for overall strength in whatever group your exercising whereas machines are a way to pinpoint your target muscle in one group.

2comment · 2016-01-08T19:17:22+00:00

Free weights are good at isolation but that's precisely what they do, exercise isolated muscles away from the whole. You may make some muscle way stronger than normal over time (the machines make it easy to overshoot what you could normally do).... but then can't do it free-weighted because the rest of your system isn't at that level. Doing the same movements free-weighted is always harder because you need to stabilize a lot more.

As other people said, fixed weights have their uses, just understand why though.

martin-ho · 2016-01-08T19:26:19+00:00

The only thing machines are better at than free weights is to recover from an injury or to balance out a muscle imbalance.

Free weights are superior if you want to grow muscle size and also if you want to get stronger.

YugiBubu · 2016-01-08T19:33:46+00:00

Please bro you're looking for /r/fitness

bittr_n_swt · 2016-01-08T18:55:46+00:00

head over to r/rgainit, free weights are way better as they build your stabiliser muscles. you can squat 100kg on a machine but if you try doing 100kg on free weights, you'll fail so badly...very badly

Title	Does anyone here use fixed weights when they work out, or only free weights? Are there actually any advantages to fixed weights over free weights?
Author	StarDestinyGuy
Upvotes	0
Comments	8
Date	January 8, 2016 5:40 PM UTC (10 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/askTRP
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/asktrp/comments/402400/does_anyone_here_use_fixed_weights_when_they_work/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/askTRP/does-anyone-here-use-fixed-weights-when-they-work.158990 https://theredarchive.com/post/158990

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