hammer strength machines...

[yungfaceb3]

At my Gold's Gym there are several hammer strength machines. The ones to which my question obtains are the ones used for targeting the chest. I am a free weight loving bodybuilder...though i understand the usage of machines is neccesary for building a quality physique (smith machine/ various forms of leg curl machines/ leg extensions/ cables/ and the occasional tricep press or preacher curl machine/ leg press, hack squat machine,etc.) I tend to stray away from usuing them especially when they pertain to pressing movements or movements that can be duplicated usuing free weights. I usually stick to the barbell/ dumbell presses...dumbell flyes...dips..and cables for my chest workouts. My gym has a hammer strength machine for the chest in which you sit straight up and press the weight forward, another where you lie flat and press the weights upward and together (duplicating db presses), one where you sit upright and press the weights forward and together and another which is titled "wide chest" that i have never even sat in to find out how the movement works. I sat in one today for one set with light weight just to see how it felt and it felt good..gave me a pretty good pump...but at the same time this is to be expected from something i have never done before. I look at Arnold's chest which is quite possibly the greatest of all time and understand that he never used these machines...so i in turn speculate i can develope my chest just fine w/o them...is this a mistake...or is my avoiding them an intelligent decision?

[-DedicateD-]

the only time i use these machines are when
1. im nursing an injury and cant handle free weights
2. i want to get in some high rep sets at the end of a workout for a little extra volume

ive gone as long as 7-8 months using nothing but free weights (exception of a standing calf raise machine and leg curls) i have been bulking and sticking to compound exercises, i can see the benefits of machine use for sculpting however

[yungfaceb3]

okay thanx, I appreciate it. What you said is what i thought, but i wasn't sure. you have assured me. You look pretty dam solid so i can take your word...lol

[RANA]

I use then every once in awhile to shock my body. I am always using free weights and every so often I will add a hammer machine

[buffgator]

There are several brands that I like, and a few that are to small for me. I love getting a good pump off them.

[sonnygll]

I'll go even further than DedicateD. The only machine I use regularly is the calf press. That's it. Everything else is barbell, dumbbell or weighted.

I think a lot of bodybuilders waste lots of time with endless isolation sets on these stupid machines, when they already got the job done with free weight sets at the beginning of the workout.

Like I always say, I don't know why people hold up a pre-contest muscle separation/ratio workout and call it a mass builder. That's like pointing at a rabbit and calling it a rhino.

[Ejuicer]

Hammer strength shoulder press is about the only machine that I really use. The rest is pretty much all free weights and cables.

[PEWN]

the only time i use these machines are when
1. im nursing an injury and cant handle free weights
2. i want to get in some high rep sets at the end of a workout for a little extra volume

ive gone as long as 7-8 months using nothing but free weights (exception of a standing calf raise machine and leg curls) i have been bulking and sticking to compound exercises, i can see the benefits of machine use for sculpting however

exactly what i was going to type..... good post...

[buffgator]

I have a good friend who is a monster. He will not touch a free weight to save his life. Machines and cables is all he will use.

[felixno9]

I swear by the hammer biasap one. I'll hit up 10-12 on each level for one set and sometimes super set it with 21's. my favorit bia workout

[sonnygll]

I have a good friend who is a monster. He will not touch a free weight to save his life. Machines and cables is all he will use.

Excellent genetics and high doses of several of the best drugs money can buy, along with lots of food can make up for A WHOLE LOT. Even using machines.

[green22]

that wide chest machine your talking about sucks, at least for me. I think it torques the shoulders way to much. But hey Im a free weight guy.

[WelshWarrior]

Do them if you want a change, but keep them at the bottom of the list of exercises.

I find the machines force my wrists or elbows in positions they are not used to, obviously no problem with this on db or bb...

JMO