Hammer Strength or Free Weights?

hey guys, I know that a beginner should always focus on more free weights than machines. Ive only been lifting smartly for 7 months so I still classify myself as that.

My question is for your chest major, preety just just flat pressing what if the hammer strengh machines seem to workj your chest alot more than barbells or dubbell. Not incline but flat becnh I can feel it. I can really squeeze hard and push with my chest as apposed to using bb or db. Should I just continue to use bb and db or switch to using machines?

[quote]crod266 wrote:
hey guys, I know that a beginner should always focus on more free weights than machines. Ive only been lifting smartly for 7 months so I still classify myself as that.

My question is for your chest major, preety just just flat pressing what if the hammer strengh machines seem to workj your chest alot more than barbells or dubbell. Not incline but flat becnh I can feel it. I can really squeeze hard and push with my chest as apposed to using bb or db. Should I just continue to use bb and db or switch to using machines?[/quote]

what’s your routine. You very likely can do free weights and machines if you design for it.

Use both.

[quote]zephead4747 wrote:
crod266 wrote:
hey guys, I know that a beginner should always focus on more free weights than machines. Ive only been lifting smartly for 7 months so I still classify myself as that.

My question is for your chest major, preety just just flat pressing what if the hammer strengh machines seem to workj your chest alot more than barbells or dubbell.

Not incline but flat becnh I can feel it. I can really squeeze hard and push with my chest as apposed to using bb or db. Should I just continue to use bb and db or switch to using machines?

what’s your routine. You very likely can do free weights and machines if you design for it.[/quote]

Machines are good IMO for finish work. But, what are your goals? If you are preparing for a powerlifting comp, stay away…unless the have a machine max comp.

If you’re uing the Hammer Bench I’m thinking of it’s great for really hitting your pecs. With the double handles you can actually go lower than chest level but still have more control than with dumbells. Careful with your shoulders. I’d definitely use it.

If you feel you are getting better results for your goals, then continue to use the hammer bench. For strength, it is not as great as pure bench press imo. However it is pretty good for overall mass.

basically my chest routine looks like this flat db bench 2x6
incline bb bench 2x8
decline hammer strengh 2x10

Im thinking of moving the dumbbells bench with flat hammer bench and switching decline hammer strengh to peck deck. what do you guys this? im all after hypertrophy

The other thing is maybe I should just give it some time and ill get used to the dumbbells