Hammer Strength Bench Press- Good For Size?

[theronin391]

Hello,

I know that the regular barbell bench press, is better for size BUT is the Hammer Strength Bench Press still good for size? Will it make you gain good size if your loading it up? I currently have an injury and whenever I try to do the benchpress it agrevates it so Im trying to find a substitude that will still give you good resutls.

[afliction4lif]

no it is not good becuz ure stableizers wont grow. girls like big stableizers 2 u know

[Tommy W.]

Hammer Strength equipment is awesome. I can't bench anymore due to shoulder problems. When I started using the HS flat bench and incline i noticed quick results. It really isolates the pecs well. You can use a lot of weight and just go for it. The travel pattern is really good for keeping constant tension.

[KeepSquatting]

I started adding hammer bench to my chest day, There's one at my gym and I hardly ever see anyone using it

[JustinT24]

I used to only do hammer strength machines because I didn't have a spot and was scared of dumbbells lol

I could stack up 3 45s + a 25 on each side and rep out sets of 10 and I thought I was big and strong...Then I start working out with a friend and he says lets do bench.

It took EVERYTHING I HAD to rep out 135 x 10.

HS stuff is still good equipment but I wouldn't totally stop free weights. I'd still do lighter weight barbell or DB press if possible.

[sok454]

I tried the Hammer presses this past week for the first time ever just to switch it up. I really liked it... felt like it killed my chest. And you are right you can really load up the machine. I usually do DB flat for my chest work.

And Affliction... at 5'4 130 don't think any women will be finding a big "stabilizers" on you.

[sok454]

I used to only do hammer strength machines because I didn't have a spot and was scared of dumbbells lol

I could stack up 3 45s + a 25 on each side and rep out sets of 10 and I thought I was big and strong...Then I start working out with a friend and he says lets do bench.

It took EVERYTHING I HAD to rep out 135 x 10.

HS stuff is still good equipment but I wouldn't totally stop free weights. I'd still do lighter weight barbell or DB press if possible.

So you were putting about 320 on there total, but only repping 135x10 on regular bench??? That seems odd... stabilizers maybe? The reason I say that is I was only able to get about 2-3 reps on 320 the first time I tried the Converging HS press machine but I can rep 225 about 15 times on flat bench.

I'll say I did like the stretch and pump i got from the HS stuff.

[afliction4lif]

And Affliction... at 5'4 130 don't think any women will be finding a big "stabilizers" on you.

it is afliction not affliction get ur spell rite. an girls b mirin me 2

[sok454]

Right right tuff guy.

[JustinT24]

So you were putting about 320 on there total, but only repping 135x10 on regular bench??? That seems odd... stabilizers maybe? The reason I say that is I was only able to get about 2-3 reps on 320 the first time I tried the Converging HS press machine but I can rep 225 about 15 times on flat bench.

I'll say I did like the stretch and pump i got from the HS stuff.

I def. think it was stabalizers.

Also at the time I hadn't done actual flat bench in prob 6 years lol. I stayed on HS machines for probably my first 18 months in the gym because I was an idiot


After that initial ego killer I had pretty rapid gains doing flat bench. That was I guess 6 months ago and I'm able to get up 275 x 3 now but only 225x6. I'm still lacking in the upper reps so I've got a lot of work to go yet

[Turboboy]

If you have access to one, I'd certainly use it. Rarely, when I work out at our local college, I use their Hammer Strength for super sets knowing that I won't have to worry about dropping anything on me. It's hard to beat the basic barbell exercises due to the additional stress they put on the stabilizers but if you can't bench, or want to change something up, I can't see the harm in using one.

[sok454]

I def. think it was stabalizers.

Also at the time I hadn't done actual flat bench in prob 6 years lol. I stayed on HS machines for probably my first 18 months in the gym because I was an idiot


After that initial ego killer I had pretty rapid gains doing flat bench. That was I guess 6 months ago and I'm able to get up 275 x 3 now but only 225x6. I'm still lacking in the upper reps so I've got a lot of work to go yet

I was huge on using the shoulder press machine...thinking I was all bad pressing 300+... then grab some 60lb db and not be able to do a rep... HA!

Awesome though man. I've always been able to rep weights for high amounts but then as I get close to my max it drops like a rock. I've really cut my loads down to nothing more then 10 reps and typically stay in the 4-8 range now. What type of work are you doing on your chest? I saw on a another post you were cutting. What are you wanting to get down to? Looks like you have good arm development! no homo.

[JustinT24]

I was huge on using the shoulder press machine...thinking I was all bad pressing 300+... then grab some 60lb db and not be able to do a rep... HA!

Awesome though man. I've always been able to rep weights for high amounts but then as I get close to my max it drops like a rock. I've really cut my loads down to nothing more then 10 reps and typically stay in the 4-8 range now. What type of work are you doing on your chest? I saw on a another post you were cutting. What are you wanting to get down to? Looks like you have good arm development! no homo.

My chest routine right now is:

4 x 10 BB bench + 1 x failure with heavy weight

3 x 12 DB flyes. I used to just use the cables but DBs made a WORLD of difference

3 x 12 incline BB bench

2 x 15 cable crossovers

and I've just recently started trying to add DB bench into the mix as well. Been doing 5x5 with it just to really get the feel of it then in probably 3 or 4 weeks I'll stop doing BB bench for awhile and focus just on DB


and I do the hammer strength shoulder press too, can only do 2 45s on each side for reps of 10 though

[sok454]

If you have access to one, I'd certainly use it. Rarely, when I work out at our local college, I use their Hammer Strength for super sets knowing that I won't have to worry about dropping anything on me. It's hard to beat the basic barbell exercises due to the additional stress they put on the stabilizers but if you can't bench, or want to change something up, I can't see the harm in using one.

Dude Turbo those are some impressive progress pics man. Good work (no homo)

[sok454]

My chest routine right now is:

4 x 10 BB bench + 1 x failure with heavy weight

3 x 12 DB flyes. I used to just use the cables but DBs made a WORLD of difference

3 x 12 incline BB bench

2 x 15 cable crossovers

and I've just recently started trying to add DB bench into the mix as well. Been doing 5x5 with it just to really get the feel of it then in probably 3 or 4 weeks I'll stop doing BB bench for awhile and focus just on DB


and I do the hammer strength shoulder press too, can only do 2 45s on each side for reps of 10 though

What type of weight are you using on your flies?

I found that for me the Incline flies work really well. I typically do 4x6-8 reps on it.

I really like using the DB flat bench now. I've been doing a decreasing rep load like 1x8 1x6 2x5, 2x4, 2x3 with it.
What sux is the gym only goes up to 100lb db's so I need to start working them into the incline routine. If I ever get to incline DB w/ 100lb then I'll change gyms!

[JustinT24]

What type of weight are you using on your flies?

I found that for me the Incline flies work really well. I typically do 4x6-8 reps on it.

I really like using the DB flat bench now. I've been doing a decreasing rep load like 1x8 1x6 2x5, 2x4, 2x3 with it.
What sux is the gym only goes up to 100lb db's so I need to start working them into the incline routine. If I ever get to incline DB w/ 100lb then I'll change gyms!

on the machine I was able to max it out at 260 and make the cable moan lol

Since I started doing DB flyes I'm only able to do 45s. Goal is next chest day to get 50s all 3 sets

[sok454]

on the machine I was able to max it out at 260 and make the cable moan lol

Since I started doing DB flyes I'm only able to do 45s. Goal is next chest day to get 50s all 3 sets

HAHA! That's good... cable moan. Tell me you also spit a bit on the mirror when you were max'n out the machine!!! Chicks love that! Here baby... let me spit on you.

[afliction4lif]

Looks like you have good arm development! no homo.

Dude Turbo those are some impressive progress pics man. Good work (no homo)

HAHA! That's good... moan... Here baby... let me spit on you.

not sayin nething, jus sayin...

[theronin391]

Hammer Strength equipment is awesome. I can't bench anymore due to shoulder problems. When I started using the HS flat bench and incline i noticed quick results. It really isolates the pecs well. You can use a lot of weight and just go for it. The travel pattern is really good for keeping constant tension.

Quick results in strenght or size?

[Tommy W.]

Quick results in strenght or size?

both

[theronin391]

Sounds good to me, thanks

[nosferatuman]

i love these machines. you can push a ton of weight on them; however, i would also use free weights. i had the same problem..i was benching like 280 on the HS bench, but i can't do sh*t on free weight bench. you can put on good size from them, but i don't think they will necessarily make you strong. last night i used the HS for flat bench then when i did incline bench i used dumbbells but could only do 60lbs in each hand.

[Tommy W.]

i love these machines. you can push a ton of weight on them; however, i would also use free weights. i had the same problem..i was benching like 280 on the HS bench, but i can't do sh*t on free weight bench. you can put on good size from them, but i don't think they will necessarily make you strong. last night i used the HS for flat bench then when i did incline bench i used dumbbells but could only do 60lbs in each hand.

One of the main reasons that you'll move more weight with the HS and other similar "machines" is the fact that you're taking out a lot of the weak links of the exercises.

[VoxExMachina]

A good strategy with these is to do your regular BB or DB work, then use the HS machines to hammer out a few more sets. Since you don't have to worry about stabilizing the weight, you can really finish off the pectorals.

If regular benching causes issues for you, these are a good solution, IMO. HS makes some solid equipment. As far as size goes, it should work just fine.

[theronin391]

I can't do barbell bench press due to some wrist issues that I have but I will prob mix the Hammer Srenght Machines with DB Flat bench press to see if I get good results.