Is it better to perform certain lifts on machines than with free weights?
Yes, but remember, barbells, dumbbells, and cable units are all “free weights.” Everything else is a “machine.” Unless you’re a beginner—in which case, you’ll benefit from using just about any type of gym equipment—focus on free weights. The training effect is enhanced when muscles control and stabilize the weights in addition to pulling or pushing them. That said, some exercises, including leg curls and adductor and abductor extensions, work better on machines. Also, although free weights aren’t necessarily more dangerous than machines, certain maneuvers, like dead lifts and squats, do require a baseline level of skill, so get instruction from a qualified trainer before you attempt them on your own. Those caveats aside, free weights will always be the best way to maximize muscle gain.
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