Hammer Strength vs free weights

[WalkingBeast]

There's no comparision, I can push 7 plates a side for a double on the HS wide chest and I'm not even a 405 bencher. 5 plates a side for reps with the row.. it's ridiculous.

They designed those machines so the health-club set would feel better about themselves, they're good but the leverage is stupid and not necessary. Southern Xercise make way better machines but they never caught on in a big way because the weights you have to use are an ego killer & the 180 club wouldn't use them.

Nice! The ones Ive used seem to have a 10 plate capacity. Maybe thinner plates would help? Ive never been able to fit more then 5 a side. Keep KILLING that shit!!

 

[Tweakle]

yup, very thin plates in the gym I go to with the hammer machines.

Standard chunky gym 45's you could probably only fit 5 on max

doesn't matter, I'm not going to be using machines again until I'm benching 405

 

[karde]

My new gym doesn't have HS machines, but I liked to finish my workouts with a couple of sets on them.

 

[wnt2bBeast]

There's no comparision, I can push 7 plates a side for a double on the HS wide chest and I'm not even a 405 bencher. 5 plates a side for reps with the row.. it's ridiculous.

They designed those machines so the health-club set would feel better about themselves, they're good but the leverage is stupid and not necessary. Southern Xercise make way better machines but they never caught on in a big way because the weights you have to use are an ego killer & the 180 club wouldn't use them.

I agree the leverage is out of control..so if they were smarter they would have built them with a bigger capacity..your lucky to have the thin plates..I load the hack machine to the tilts every week AFTER i squat and still get my 6-8 reps..im hoping my gym will buy 100 lb plates..lol

 

[Allon]

Gravity has less of an affect on the weight along with leverage. I always feel that you can get more weight up on a machine, but I think they are the perfect thing for beginners, to learn the form, and get use the specific muscle tensing up. I only use the machines when the free weight version is being used or not available at all. But at times I use them for burn out sets cuz it will keep my form strict throught the process when I am spent most and wantin to cheat!

Great idea!

 

[powerforward]

i just look at them as a different exercise. i don't compare the weight i do on hs to what i do on free weight, but i like using hs for rest pause sets/drop sets etc.

its just different.