Hammer Strength/Machines vs Free Weights

[Todd Lincoln]

In recent years gym equipment manufacturers have come out with more sophisticated equipment that allows you to work the desired muscle group with little or no strain on the joints and tendons. For Example, the V squat.

Do you still use mostly free weights or have you come to substitute some exercises and/or rely solely on these new more advanced machines?

[LSMUSCL81]

for me...depends on how achy i am....if im feeling good ill keep the free weights flying...if im dragging ass...machines

["Rodz"]

I love the hammer equipment, it lets me lift heavy without fear.

[GDavis]

Hammer strength lets you lift more weight than you can actually do. More so, if you limit the range you can load 45's with the ease of stacking pennies. Not sure it does much for adding muscle is good on the joints but hey it impresses the hell out of the 21 year old with a one armed tribal sleeve watching you.

[scottg]

I hold Hammer Strength personally responsible for the regression in chest development seen in high level bodybuilding.

Look at the chests in the 70's when there weren't any machines compared to now. It's the one bodypart that has gone backwards.

[HangingLegRaise]

If you're trying to get bigger and stronger, why do anything but free weights? What, because Cutler says he gets a good contract on hammer strength machines? Cutler built that mass on old-school, heavy barbell and dumbbell movements.

In my training I look at it this way, if I've covered my bases and done my basic movements (freeweight presses, rows, squats, deadlifts) then I might add in a machine afterwards, but most of the time I'll stick to freeweights.

[LouisG271]

They both have their place. i do 90% free weights and the rest machines

[Dee]

In my training I look at it this way, if I've covered my bases and done my basic movements (freeweight presses, rows, squats, deadlifts) then I might add in a machine afterwards, but most of the time I'll stick to freeweights.

I use the same logic. I will use machines, especially the hammer strength machines which i love, after I've done the heavy lifting with free weights OR if im working around some joint pain/injury I will use it in place of free weights for the time being.

I love the hammer strength behind the neck press machine, I use it after dumbell or barbell shoulder presses.....set the seat a bit low so i dont come down too far and load that motherfucker up with weight. I also like their seated decline chest press and standing leg curl.

[HangingLegRaise]

Some of the best machines in the world, and none of them are hammer strength.

[GDavis]

I really like this machine. You do not see it often.

[salali86]

Consider machines as a semi-isolation movement as opposed to a compound free-weight movement. Even though you might feel a better contraction on some machines, they do not provide the same nervous stimulation that free-weights do, people often dont know that nervous stimulation in addition to muscle contraction determine how much muscle you put on. Generally the best at doing both are movements where your whole body moves(squats, dips), followed by free weight compound, followed by freeweight isolation, followed by non-variable resistance compound machines(machines that do not change resistance through the movement-usually to make the lift easier) some of these machines are as good as freeweight isolation though freeweight isolation would have to be classified as better than the machine(provide higher nervous stimulation), then comes non-variable resistance isolation machines and usually the variable resistance machines are the worst.

I got this from the book Big Beyond Belief. Not sure it's a 100% accurate classification standard but it's probably right in general terms.

[a-dog]

both have thier place. IMHO both can be effective. I look at progression more than anything else. If I start on a machine and lets say I can get a good 10 reps with 3-45 pound plates on each side the very first time I get on that machine....that really means nothing to me. What is important is that I am able to add weight while keeping the rep range in about the same area so after a few weeks I can do 4-45's on each side then I am happy, same goes with free weights. If I was to jump on a flat bench and let's just pretend I could only get 12 reps with 135lbs, and I mean I would acctually fail at 12 reps on very first go on that movement in along time, I would not be discouraged. Now after a few weeks if I'm only able to move like 145lbs for 10 reps then I would be concerned.

overload and constant progression are what I look for, I could care less if it's on a machine or using free weights.

[HangingLegRaise]

I really like this machine. You do not see it often.

My old gym had that one, and yeah it is a good one. Nice way to do close grip bench.

[Young Gotti]

do free weights first in your workouts...for example dumbbell press, incline dumbell press.....then machines last, your main muscles may still have energy in them while the stabilzers are completly shot, so they both can be beneficial

[nags]

do free weights first in your workouts...for example dumbbell press, incline dumbell press.....then machines last, your main muscles may still have energy in them while the stabilzers are completly shot, so they both can be beneficial

That's how I usually do it. Then to mix it up I'll have days that I start super heavy on Hammer Strength machines THEN go to dumbbells but drop the weight a bit and do higher reps with the hardest contractions possible.