Hammer Strength...

**Zero Tolerance** · 04-17-2006, 05:16 PM

If one were to do chest presses (incline, flat and decline) with Hammer Strength machines exclusively - correct me if I'm wrong - but one could gain mass.. Maybe not AS much as with barbells and dumbells, but almost as much.

Could this be untrue? If one were to press 600lbs for 10 reps on the Hammer Strength incline machine - and this being the only incline chest press ever done - how could a person not be huge? Considering diet, rest and exercize was done properly.

The reason I'm curious is because I'm seeing a lot of impressive people using Hammer Strength press machines almost exclusively... Is anyone's mind changing in regards to these machines? Last I asked, I think most opinions were that they were best for building tone and not very good for building mass...

CROWLER · 04-17-2006, 05:26 PM

I say use both Hammer and free but mostly free, get the best of both worlds. Plus you get to look really cool lifting all that weight lol

CROWLER

**Zero Tolerance** · 04-17-2006, 05:31 PM

You're right. The Hammer Strength machines let you pack on the plates.. I'm going to start incorporating H.S. into my workouts. It's aggravating walking from one side of the gym to the other carrying 100lb dumbells.. For me, that's a workout in itself...

picasso · 04-17-2006, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero Tolerance

If one were to do chest presses (incline, flat and decline) with Hammer Strength machines exclusively - correct me if I'm wrong - but one could gain mass.. Maybe not AS much as with barbells and dumbells, but almost as much.

Could this be untrue? If one were to press 600lbs for 10 reps on the Hammer Strength incline machine - and this being the only incline chest press ever done - how could a person not be huge? Considering diet, rest and exercize was done properly.

The reason I'm curious is because I'm seeing a lot of impressive people using Hammer Strength press machines almost exclusively... Is anyone's mind changing in regards to these machines? Last I asked, I think most opinions were that they were best for building tone and not very good for building mass...

The need to lift heavier weights without a spotter/workout parter makes the HS equipment a natural for me. Plus the fact that you start off at the beginning of the motion, which means you can push yourself harder knowing that you don't have to finish the last rep to get the bar 'up'. Perfect for those of us working out solo.

**Basso** · 04-17-2006, 05:40 PM

The problem is the same if you only do leg press and not squats, yes you can pack on size, but you fail to incorporate the ancillary muscles to the same degree. You don't have to balance the bar and thus lose a huge benefit. This will translate directly to real life, if you don't do anything else (sports, manual labor, etc) then do hammer strength exclusively, if you want usable muscle with less chance of injury it's in your best interest to incorporate free weight movements

**glenihan** · 04-17-2006, 05:47 PM

personally i love the HS incline press and shoulder press

**rocketscientist** · 04-17-2006, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero Tolerance

Last I asked, I think most opinions were that they were best for building tone and not very good for building mass...

I always wonder how the muscles know that I'm toning them now...

(I know I sound like Matt Brzycki).

No reason you shouldn't be able to build muscles with them. As Basso mentioned, the movement is more isolated then when using free weight - in particular dumbbells where just coordinating the weight takes energy.

The advantage is that you don't have to worry about coordination etc. with machines you can fully concentrate on pushing as hard as you can (and try to do that with dumbbells - well, better don't try that). I often like to use them as second exercise after free weights.

Another funny thing to try is to do machine presses only, for some 3 months or so and then switch to heavy dumbbell presses... then watch where the dumbbells go.

picasso · 04-17-2006, 06:17 PM

I use both, as heavy dumbells are just no fun trying to get up using momemtum. Then having to drop them. Depending on whether the weight / week is heavy or light, I'll choose either HS or dumbells for pushing' type movements like shoulder press & incline chest.

**jminis** · 04-17-2006, 06:17 PM

H.S. equipment is a godsend for me. Especially with the chest press. Regular flat bench destroys my shoulder but with the horizontal H.S. chest press I can go heavy and hard and it doesn't effect my shoulder in the least. It puts my wrists in a more natural position which is a huge plus.

**Basso** · 04-17-2006, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocketscientist

Another funny thing to try is to do machine presses only, for some 3 months or so and then switch to heavy dumbbell presses... then watch where the dumbbells go.

Very good point, you really loose alot of Free lifting ability when doing HS only, it really depends on goals, if your trying to gain size HS only will work, but so will nautilaus or any other machine. I subscribe to the theory of "with increased strength, increased size will come" So I use HS mostly for pumps or burnouts. just mho.

**bioman** · 04-17-2006, 08:59 PM

Same here Jminis. I have no workout partner and most people at my gym I would not trust even though I don't bench all that heavy. If you use both HS machines I think that covers most of what BB or DB pressing does minus the strain on some of the smaller ancillaries and joints.

Going from HS to some DB shoulder movements like side/front extensions, Kong/Cuban presses, Arnolds or cable flies and I really feel worked by the end. My chest development has actually improved since I switched to HS from DB presses and my shoulder is way less fussy.

I think as long as you tie in some free wieghts for shoulders you'll be golden.

**BigVrunga** · 04-17-2006, 10:49 PM

I always shied away from the HS machines, maybe I should check them out. I always felt my delts worked harder than my chest from what I remember - that was ages ago though.

BV

**B5150** · 04-17-2006, 10:57 PM

The one piece of equipment/machine that I would drop large cash on would be a HS chest (adjustable angle) machine. I train solo and long to put some very heavy weight to task without the risk of fatality. Of course with all exercises there is adaptation. But I would love to get adapted to big and heavy chest pressing again.

**bioman** · 04-18-2006, 03:40 AM

I try not to get too excited by the fact I can HS press 400 pounds..because my real BB bench is nowhere even in that neighborhood, LOL.

**jminis** · 04-18-2006, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigVrunga

I always shied away from the HS machines, maybe I should check them out. I always felt my delts worked harder than my chest from what I remember - that was ages ago though.

BV

BV if anything you should be able to isolate your pecs more as stablizing the weight isn't necessary. It's also nice that they're all iso lateral machines so I can go heavy one side at a time if need be.

**Ronin13** · 04-18-2006, 10:14 AM

I agree with jminis. I am slowly recovering from shoulder surgery and HS has been an amazing benefit to my rehab. I also have noticed that my chest is growing faster than when I used DB or the BB alone.