Free weight vs gym machine: which is better for muscle endurance athletes of archery?

Background and Study Aim. Archery athletes need excellent physical fitness. One indication that significantly influences archery achievement is arm muscle endurance. The study aimed to determine: the effect of free weight training on increasing arm muscle endurance of archery athletes; the effect of gym machine weight training on increasing arm muscle endurance of archery athletes; which is better free weight training or a gym machine, to increase arm muscle endurance of archery athletes. Material and Methods. This type of research is an experiment with a "Two Groups Pretest-Posttest Design" design. The population is archery athletes, totaling 20 males sex with ages 12-15 years. The exercise was carried out for six weeks. The instrument uses the Holding Bow Digitec Test. The data analysis technique was a t-test. Results. The results showed: 1) there was a significant effect of free weight training on increasing arm muscle endurance of archery athletes with p-value 0.000 < 0.05; 2) there is a significant effect of gym machine weight training on increasing arm muscle endurance of archery athletes, with p-value 0.002 < 0.05; 3) there is a significant difference between free weight training and gym machine on the arm muscle endurance of archery athletes, with p-value 0.019 < 0.05. Conclusions. Free weight training and gym machines for 18 meetings can increase the endurance of archery athletes' arm muscles. Free weight training is better than gym machine weight training on the arm muscle endurance of archery athletes. A gym machine is suitable for a school environment with minimal supervision because it does not require another person as a stabilizer.