Hammer Strength machines?

[Jollyrogers_cookin]

I use them after Inclines and im starting to like them they really hit the upper chest and front delts and even my Tri's ...

anybody else here use them, what do you think about using them, any good to you?

 

[Carmen]

I use them after Inclines and im starting to like them they really hit the upper chest and front delts and even my Tri's ...

anybody else here use them, what do you think about using them, any good to you?

i wouldn't use them solely, but they are good to combine with free weights.

 

[mrzap]

The incline hammer press really seems to hit the tri's. I have started using that in place of barbell press movements as this keeps me in such a position that doesn't seem to hurt my rotator cuff.

 

[wnt2bBeast]

i wouldn't use them solely, but they are good to combine with free weights.

i agree...personally i really dont see the need for hammer chest machines..they give you leverage thus making the move easier...i prefer BB since i can take any type of grip i feel like..my order of preference would be
Barbell
Barbell (lol)
Dbell
hammer

 

[Mike_Rojas]

I like their rowing machines

 

[eat big]

i like the iso wide chest a lot, i do it once a month maybe

 

[AEKDB]

anybody else here use them, what do you think about using them, any good to you?

I hate them. I hate having to weave my way through them to find the power rack. I hate that they take up as much space as possible to make a complex machine for the simplest exercise. I hate that there are so many different "machines", and the Gym must have every one, that there is only room left for 1 power rack in a 10000sq/ft gym.

The only way you are going to get strong with a machine is if you carry it from one side of the gym to the other

 

[rom_mem]

real men ALSO use machines nuff sad

 

[eat big]

yeah nothing wrong with being a machine queen

 

[Jollyrogers_cookin]

yeah nothing wrong with being a machine queen

lmao

 

[cmdubs]

I wish my gym had hammer strength machines

 

[wnt2bBeast]

real men ALSO use machines nuff sad

thats funny..are you trying to validate something? lol..theres nothing wrong with using a machine as a secondary exercise but it should never replace free weoghts..its very obvious to tell when a physique was built by good ol fashioned barbells vs one built by machines

 

[eat big]

oh no doubt beast, but they are good for exaclty what you said, a secondary exercise.

 

[InTraining]

I think you guys are missing something...yes free weights are great but machines should not be underestimated for growth purposes...sure if you want to get extremely strong I would advocate a routine made up of 90% free weight exercises but otherwise I don't see the big deal....

With that said I base my routine around free weights...

 

[wnt2bBeast]

I think you guys are missing something...yes free weights are great but machines should not be underestimated for growth purposes...sure if you want to get extremely strong I would advocate a routine made up of 90% free weight exercises but otherwise I don't see the big deal....

With that said I base my routine around free weights...

give me an example!!

 

[InTraining]

give me an example!!

Remember I am only talking about growth here...personally I don't think machine strength transfers over to free weight strength very well...

Also important is the relative amount of weight from a free weight exercise to a machine...for instance if one is doing 135 for 10 on a BB military vs. the whole stack on a shoulder press machine for say 15 who is going to have bigger delts? Probably the person who is using the machine as the load is greater in that case

I hate to bring up this example once again but look at DC trainees, machines can and often do comprise a large part of their exercise pools and yet most are massive....

Actually I'm a bit biased here...I'm going to start DC training soon and with that said using machines is a lot easier for RP sets...so that may be why they are used so much

With all that said I think compound movements that put the greatest load on the muscles are most effective.

 

[Tweakle]

When I can work chest again all I ever plan on doing is 5's with DB's for the main course and Hammer iso wide/incline for dessert (high reps and lower weight)

 

[AEKDB]

give me an example!!

After my rant on machines, I will play the other side. The only exercises I think machines might (notice I said might) be better for is the various shrug forms that you can either not do without a machine (cross over shrugs) or are much safer with machines (bench press shrug).

It still amazes me how big the machines have become. They have swivel hinges and now ropes that are supposed to better work the stabilizers. What the hell are free weights for? And don't get me started on the obligatory "how to" diagram.

 

[supreme]

Machines suck!!! They lead to pattern overload injuries, non-physioloigical movement patterns, muscle imbalance, abnormal ranges of motion, decreased core involvement, decreased balance and coordination, lower caloric expenditure, postural imbalances and take up too much god damn fucking room in my gym!!

Although they are a great place to meet chicks!!!!! (especially the ass blaster, inner & outer snatch machines) - There is another plus - they keep the pencil necks & dorks out of the power rack !!!!!!!!

S

 

[wnt2bBeast]

Remember I am only talking about growth here...personally I don't think machine strength transfers over to free weight strength very well...

Also important is the relative amount of weight from a free weight exercise to a machine...for instance if one is doing 135 for 10 on a BB military vs. the whole stack on a shoulder press machine for say 15 who is going to have bigger delts? Probably the person who is using the machine as the load is greater in that case

I hate to bring up this example once again but look at DC trainees, machines can and often do comprise a large part of their exercise pools and yet most are massive....

Actually I'm a bit biased here...I'm going to start DC training soon and with that said using machines is a lot easier for RP sets...so that may be why they are used so much

With all that said I think compound movements that put the greatest load on the muscles are most effective.

I know you were talking about growth..i all for growth!!! im interested to hear about how your DC routine turns out for you..so keep us upadated!!

I was under the impression that DC stuck to mostly BB moves rather than machines??I would think that you need to even the load otherwise youll see no growth..take front bb press if you do 135 for 10 but on the machine you use the satck for 10 (slightly easier reps) your limiting your growth potential..u need to start pinning plates on the stack..just curious why you think it would be easier to do RP's on a machine? you have a spotter??

I dont want you to think i never touch a machine..i may have to start using th high row for back my gymonly goes to 130 lb bells and those are dont for 3x10 rather easily at the very end of my routine

 

[cwick0]

useful machines= lat pulldown, cables, and tricep extensions.

Sorry, but THATS ALL.

 

[Dial_tone]

I do:

Hammer strength presses
Hammer strength inclines
inc DB press
dips

I save the power rack for the fuckheads doing curls with 105 lbs.

 

[Carmen]

useful machines= lat pulldown, cables, and tricep extensions.

Sorry, but THATS ALL.

and hamstrings imo.

 

[wnt2bBeast]

useful machines= lat pulldown, cables, and tricep extensions.

Sorry, but THATS ALL.

i agree with you Cwick-
but and im sure your with me on this..lat pulls ( i do them as well) should not be the first back exercise you do..i aslo do rope pushdowns but i do these last.. i see so manyu in the gym doing pushdowns with every type of handle under the sun thinking this is how you get big tri's!!!

sugah ill have to inspect your hams to see if machnes really are good for them

DT some of us actually squat in the power rack lol

 

[rom_mem]

thats funny..are you trying to validate something? lol..theres nothing wrong with using a machine as a secondary exercise but it should never replace free weoghts..its very obvious to tell when a physique was built by good ol fashioned barbells vs one built by machines

wtf is wrong with u , thats exactly what i said ("ALSO") i put it in capital letters

 

[wnt2bBeast]

wtf is wrong with u , thats exactly what i said ("ALSO") i put it in capital letters

i thought you were implying that some real mean "only" use machines..whatever it doesnt matter

 

[eat big]

yeah all i ever use for machines are cable rows, peck deck, lat pulldowns, cable crossovers, and hamstring curls. thats actually a lot, i like those machines very much.

 

[wnt2bBeast]

yeah all i ever use for machines are cable rows, peck deck, lat pulldowns, cable crossovers, and hamstring curls. thats actually a lot, i like those machines very much.

this whole thing got me curious im looking thorugh my routine right now to see how many machines i use..lol right now seated ab crunch (but this changes often) lat pulls and rope pushdowns..thats it 3 everything else is either a barbell or dbell

 

[InTraining]

I know you were talking about growth..i all for growth!!! im interested to hear about how your DC routine turns out for you..so keep us upadated!!

I was under the impression that DC stuck to mostly BB moves rather than machines??I would think that you need to even the load otherwise youll see no growth..take front bb press if you do 135 for 10 but on the machine you use the satck for 10 (slightly easier reps) your limiting your growth potential..u need to start pinning plates on the stack..just curious why you think it would be easier to do RP's on a machine? you have a spotter??

I dont want you to think i never touch a machine..i may have to start using th high row for back my gymonly goes to 130 lb bells and those are dont for 3x10 rather easily at the very end of my routine

Will definitely keep the board updated man...I'm expecting lots of growth

As for the exercises used most it really depends...if you have a training partner BB moves can be done with no problems....otherwise it can suck to have to get a spotter everytime(most don't know how to spot on straight sets....let alone RP sets!!)

As for limiting growth...pinning on plates or DBs onto machine stacks is never a problem

I think some people really overemphasize free weights from a GROWTH perspective...give the muscle a stimulus to grow and it doesn't matter! Resistance is resistance! Also lots of machines are compound movements(chest presses, shoulder presses, rows)

Supreme mentioned lots of things people are concerned about when using machines...actually there was a great thread on another board where lots of DCers defended their use of the Smith Machine.....will try to find that thread

 

[wnt2bBeast]

i know what you mean about finding a spotter..my gym seems to be void on fridays..i can barely find someone to spot me for front presses..it sucks because im not lift that much with no one around..

 

[jimm]

I hate them. I hate having to weave my way through them to find the power rack. I hate that they take up as much space as possible to make a complex machine for the simplest exercise. I hate that there are so many different "machines", and the Gym must have every one, that there is only room left for 1 power rack in a 10000sq/ft gym.

The only way you are going to get strong with a machine is if you carry it from one side of the gym to the other

Much agreed on that. And once you have reached a certian size, it is even harder to weave through those darn machines, which clog up the front of the gym, where as the real weights are in the back!!

lift smart and safe
JIMM