Forum Overview :: American McGee's Honda Civic :: Let me know if you think it makes a dramatic improvement

[quote name="WITTGENSTEIN"]The whole free weights/machine weights debate interests me a lot. I use both, depending on my mood and whether I'm going alone or with my wife. (to spot each other) And it's absolutely true that no machine weight can replicate the squat. But for most stuff I'm not really sold on the free-weights-are-superior schtick. Machine weights provide objective measurement (aside from pull-downs/cables) and clear progression. I think that's important for beginners. <a href="http://startingstrength.com/index.php/site/platform_the_dumbbell_rack">As the man himself says</a>, free weights can lie. I can never tell whether the shiny, stainless steel barbell that's racked on the bench is 5-10 pounds lighter than the rusty iron one I was using last time. [/quote]