Hammer Strenght vs. Free Weights

[CeeLo]

Not going to say that the hammer stregnth is bad, but if you are getting more burn from that then free weights, you need to adjust your lifting technique.

I use both and think the hammer strgnth is a good addition, but if I had to choose, it would be a no contest.... in fact I use the hammer stregnth on occasion, but free weights everday for every part without question.

what are you using the machine for?? back? chest?.. maybe I can offer you some free weight movements. what are your goals? mass? fitness? minor resistance?

I'm trying to add a lot more Mass to my chest. I normally will do Hammere strengths more often than not and then I will switch to Barbells every 3 weeks or so. I find that I can lift harder and and heavier on the hammer Strenght, because I don't have to worry about the bar dropping on my chest becasue of no Spotter. When I had a spotter I used the bar more often. I will do chest on Monday and then I will do them again on Friday and use more Isolated and more rep exercises. I will use the dumbells and do cables on Friday. I really have a hard time with my chest and the barbell.

I like all the hammer strength machines, I think my gym has like 20 of them. I like the Lat pulldown one and the shoulder ones as well. I thought they allowed me to lift heavier and more proper!

Am I wrong?

[rockinred]

I'm trying to add a lot more Mass to my chest. I normally will do Hammere strengths more often than not and then I will switch to Barbells every 3 weeks or so. I find that I can lift harder and and heavier on the hammer Strenght, because I don't have to worry about the bar dropping on my chest becasue of no Spotter. When I had a spotter I used the bar more often. I will do chest on Monday and then I will do them again on Friday and use more Isolated and more rep exercises. I will use the dumbells and do cables on Friday. I really have a hard time with my chest and the barbell.

I like all the hammer strength machines, I think my gym has like 20 of them. I like the Lat pulldown one and the shoulder ones as well. I thought they allowed me to lift heavier and more proper!

Am I wrong?

No you are not wrong that the hammer stregnth is beneficial, but where you are wrong is that the hammer's cannot replace free weights and especially if you want some mass... If you are trying to add more mass to chest then make sure you are using free weights as your core for chest. Free weights are a priority and then burn out in the manner you are saying with the hammer. I would try something like:

warmup,
DB press flat,
DB press incline,
bb decline,
hammer burn outs,
cables if you still need some more.

next workout

Warmup,
BB flat
DB incline
hammer burnout
cables or pushups

Adam covered the importance of stabilizers and range of motion (rom). I use the hammers at my gym once in a while for chest, often for back, and once in a while for shoulders...which I like the way the shoulder ones feel the best. in no way do I expect to gain major size from those... it is the free weights that will do it... if your concern is working to failure and you don't have a partner, then use the DB's more frequently. I seldom use hammers on chest and it is one of my strong points... to get your chest going good make sure you don't neglect your shoulders and tris... hitting those good on other days will enable you to develope your chest more.

Hammer's are good and I definitley like the addition to my options but don't replace free weight exercises for those. or don't be misled.. actually when I am feeling lazy I use more hammer's on back days... but it is not better than bb rows or db rows etc....

[CeeLo]

No you are not wrong that the hammer stregnth is beneficial, but where you are wrong is that the hammer's cannot replace free weights and especially if you want some mass... If you are trying to add more mass to chest then make sure you are using free weights as your core for chest. Free weights are a priority and then burn out in the manner you are saying with the hammer. I would try something like:

warmup,
DB press flat,
DB press incline,
bb decline,
hammer burn outs,
cables if you still need some more.

next workout

Warmup,
BB flat
DB incline
hammer burnout
cables or pushups

Adam covered the importance of stabilizers and range of motion (rom). I use the hammers at my gym once in a while for chest, often for back, and once in a while for shoulders...which I like the way the shoulder ones feel the best. in no way do I expect to gain major size from those... it is the free weights that will do it... if your concern is working to failure and you don't have a partner, then use the DB's more frequently. I seldom use hammers on chest and it is one of my strong points... to get your chest going good make sure you don't neglect your shoulders and tris... hitting those good on other days will enable you to develope your chest more.

Hammer's are good and I definitley like the addition to my options but don't replace free weight exercises for those. or don't be misled.. actually when I am feeling lazy I use more hammer's on back days... but it is not better than bb rows or db rows etc....

You guys make a lot of sense and I am going to try and flip it and see how it works. If I continue to make progress on the free weights, I will slowly wed the hammer's out and use them as the top off! Thanks for all the input and advice.