Iv been told that the weight machines I use at the gym wont benefit me as much as free weights would. Is this true?

Yep. One one hand press machines will work on very focused muscle groups. So if you wish to pinpoint your target improvement, it is great. But the weights are bound to rails to make sure that you make the right movement at every rep.

One the other hand, free weights require you to balance the weights while you workout, resulting on more muscles being involved in the process.

to be fair, u should start out on machines, nice sloooow movement, not heavy weights.

it just teaches you how to tense the muscle as you train... after a few months on machines you will have better form on free weight.

FORM IS EVERYTHIN

just go for free weights and perfect your form and technique using them if you're serious.

if you're not, just go for any decent workout and eat a lot and healthily.

just to re-iterate the above points

Free weights work all your muscle groups and will increase muscle control and overall strength if you want to use it for sport or work, i.e. be stronger for rugby, boxing, etc.

Like Phil said machines will give you perfect form and movement working a specific group. This is good if you're more interested in repairing an injury or want to increase muscle size fast and easily

if you want to increase strength and ability - free weights
if you want to get big but aren't too fussed about ability, form, etc - Machines

Dont use Machines, Free weights are superior.

Machines fix you into a range of movement, biomechanically the movment your body natually wants to make the the fixed plain of movement a machine forces you to make put you at risk of injury.

Take a smith mahcine for example
Fucking horrible machine that should be banned -- shoulder presses on a smith machine force you to go up and down-- your body nautually with free weight does not go up and down with a shoulder press it actually follows a curve!, same with bench pressing or squatting.
When you get to an advanced stage and have a lot of weight on there you WILL be damaging your joints by using machines

Also free weights force you to develop all your stabailising muscles which in a realy world situation is what you need to use this strength.


machines = gay

Your a Machine

This.

Although I do use the cable machine for bits n bobs like wood chops.

PS