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[supermark21]

Originally Posted by KnowledgeKnown

I've always felt a combination of free weights and machines works very well. There are great reasons for both. Dumbbells are essential for me however I don't do alot of benching, pull ups are my favorite, but for biceps I also use macines to isolate the muscle. Biceps are sometimes hard to hit with free weights once you start to tire and lose your form.

very true. i use machines aftter my freeweights. after the primary muscles are done. and for legs. i cant keep my form on squats.

for freeweight dumbell curls try laying on an incline bench like you would for a dumbell press. let your arms hang down and curl. it stops your momentum so u cant cheat

[Dsm634]

Originally Posted by matto

you can build more muscle with machines, u dont have to stabilize the weight and u can lift more, i can bench 320 on a smith machine but cannot do it with free weights because u have to stabilize it, its like that with most exersizes.

Bullshit. There is a difference between building more muscle and being able to lift more weight. You won't be able to lift as much on a standard bar flat bench as you could on a smith machine, because it also utilizes your stabilizer muscles like dumbell presses, just not as much. As far as BUILDING muscle goes, I disagree that machines build muscle size/strength faster than freeweight/barbell from personal experience....using the latter recruits more muscle fibers and improves muscle growth.....but hey what do I know.

I think changing things up frequently is important, but if I had to choose only one or the other it definitely would be free weights/bar. Sometimes I will do lighter lifts on machines after freeweights, but hey, different strokes for different folks.

[Dsm634]

Originally Posted by supermark21

for freeweight dumbell curls try laying on an incline bench like you would for a dumbell press. let your arms hang down and curl. it stops your momentum so u cant cheat

When I do these I like to change the incline a little bit after every set. Good stuff.

Another good one is to do one-arm dumbell curls on the preacher curl bench, but facing the wrong way so ur arm extends farther down (greater range of motion).

[supermark21]

Originally Posted by Dsm634

When I do these I like to change the incline a little bit after every set. Good stuff.

Another good one is to do one-arm dumbell curls on the preacher curl bench, but facing the wrong way so ur arm extends farther down (greater range of motion).

i dont use the preacher curl much at all. i always end up cheating and hunching my shoulders up. even when i go reasonably light

[Dsm634]

Originally Posted by TN94z

If I remember the name of the equipment I will post it up. It may be Hammer Strength, I'll have to check.

It is, at least at the Gold's, X-Sport, and Powerhouse gyms by me.

[KnowledgeKnown]

I love one arm preachers where I turn my body sideways. it helps to avoid cheating.

[Dsm634]

Originally Posted by supermark21

i dont use the preacher curl much at all. i always end up cheating and hunching my shoulders up. even when i go reasonably light

Pussy. J/K I know how that goes.