Free Weights Vs Machines: Which Builds More Muscle
It’s a common debate that you’ll hear in most gyms: free weights or machines - which are best for building muscle? The truth is, both play an important role.
And at Le Coach Fitness in Cambridge, one of the UK’s best equipped gyms, we’ve built a training environment that combines the best of both worlds, so you don’t have to choose.
The Case For Free Weights
Free weights like dumbbells and barbells, give you complete freedom of movement. Which means you recruit not just the main muscles, but also stabilisers and supporting muscles that machines can’t always target.
Classic lifts such as squats, bench presses and deadlifts are proven to pack on serious mass, improve coordination and translate into real world strength. So for lifters chasing all round size and power, free weights are hard to beat.
Free weights also win when it comes to versatility. With just a pair of dumbbells you can train your whole body, which is perfect for home workouts if you can’t always get to the gym.
The Case For Machines
Machines offer a different advantage: precision and safety. They guide your range of motion, making them especially useful for beginners and anyone training without a spotter.
They also let you isolate specific muscles with laser focus, so are ideal for bodybuilding and symmetry. At Le Coach Fitness our machine collection is unmatched. From Nautilus GEN-1 pullovers to Keiser Air-Resistance rows, you’ll find unique equipment designed to hit muscles in ways that free weights never could.
Another pro for gym machines is that they allow you to safely push to failure, ensuring maximum hypertrophy without worrying about form breaking down.
Free Weights Vs Machines: Which Is Better?
At the end of the day, the smartest choice is to use free weights and machines. Free weights build raw strength and mass, while machines refine, isolate and add detail. That’s why elite bodybuilders and athletes at Le Coach train with a combination of the two.
The key of course is knowing how to balance them according to your goals. That’s where our expert personal trainers come in. Whether you’re aiming for muscle growth, strength gains or competition prep, they’ll design a programme that combines both methods for maximum results.
Book a PT session at Le Coach Fitness today and take the guesswork out of your training.