Hammer Strength Iso-Lateral bench vs Smith Machine

David Cohen wrote:
> "Bob Garrison" <bob6333> wrote
> > Same objections?
>
> Hammerstrength machines allow greater freedom of movement, so, they are
> better.
>
> Freedom of movement: dumbbells > barbell > Hammerstrength > Smith.

so you recommend a dumbell in each hand for all types of presses and
lifts? myraide

>
> David
 >> Stay informed about: Hammer Strength Iso-Lateral bench vs Smith Machine 

"Pez D Spencer" <colecoadam.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote:

>i would use neither. stick to decline or flat-bench dumbbell press.
>
>the hammer flat-bench always hurt my shoulders.
>
>the problem with machines is not their strength curves or their
>leverages or their cam design--the problem with machines, and the smith
>counts too, is due to the origins and insertions of tendons. when your
>joints are required to perform a very specific flexion in a very
>specific range, the body cannot correctly compensate for changes in
>alignment of tendon insertions. this causes stress to dissipate
>unevenly through the tendon structure and can lead to injury.

Then perhaps you could explain how Hammer Strength Iso-Lateral Bench
negatively affects the medial attachment of the pectoralis major.
Please feel free to include any references to the literature.
 >> Stay informed about: Hammer Strength Iso-Lateral bench vs Smith Machine 

When I don't lift free weights and try to use machines (such as when I
am staying at a hotel) I always seem to feel my joints get tweaked. My
personal experience is that machines are more hazardous for me since my
body can't move through its natural range of motion. I feel that
regular free weight squats are better for me than the leg press sled
for this reason. I have tried the Hammerstrength and while it does
give more motion than most I still don't feel like it works my muscles
as well as free weights. People are different and I guess some people
may like using machines but I don't, the closest I like to go is cable
exercises and the fly machine. The constant tension on the fly machine
feels like it works me better than dumbell flys. Some cable exercises
(pulldowns, triceps, etc) are very useful in my opinion.

James
 >> Stay informed about: Hammer Strength Iso-Lateral bench vs Smith Machine 

"Bob Garrison" <bob6333> wrote
> Same objections?

Hammerstrength machines allow greater freedom of movement, so, they are
better.

Freedom of movement: dumbbells > barbell > Hammerstrength > Smith.

David
 >> Stay informed about: Hammer Strength Iso-Lateral bench vs Smith Machine 

"Myraide" <myraide DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote
> David Cohen wrote:
>> "Bob Garrison" <bob6333> wrote
>> > Same objections?
>>
>> Hammerstrength machines allow greater freedom of movement, so, they are
>> better.
>>
>> Freedom of movement: dumbbells > barbell > Hammerstrength > Smith.
>
> so you recommend a dumbell in each hand for all types of presses and
> lifts?

No. But as freedom of movement of the affected joints decrease, the
incidence of problems increase.

The Smith machine is SO restrictive in freedom of movement, allowing only
one dimensional movement, that the incidence of orthopedic problems is, for
me, too high. In this regard, the Hammerstrength machine is better. Is it
good enough? Depends. On you, your joints, your age, your weight amounts,
etcetera.

As machines go, Hammerstrengh ones are amoung the best.

David
 >> Stay informed about: Hammer Strength Iso-Lateral bench vs Smith Machine 

"David Cohen" <sammiesdad.TakeThisOut@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:%jS_f.3406$sq5.2177@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>
> "Myraide" <myraide.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote
>> David Cohen wrote:
>>> "Bob Garrison" <bob6333> wrote
>>> > Same objections?
>>>
>>> Hammerstrength machines allow greater freedom of movement, so, they are
>>> better.
>>>
>>> Freedom of movement: dumbbells > barbell > Hammerstrength > Smith.
>>
>> so you recommend a dumbell in each hand for all types of presses and
>> lifts?
>
> No. But as freedom of movement of the affected joints decrease, the
> incidence of problems increase.
>
> The Smith machine is SO restrictive in freedom of movement, allowing only
> one dimensional movement, that the incidence of orthopedic problems is,
> for me, too high. In this regard, the Hammerstrength machine is better. Is
> it good enough? Depends. On you, your joints, your age, your weight
> amounts, etcetera.
>
> As machines go, Hammerstrengh ones are amoung the best.
>
> David
The additional freedom of motion is good. The other aspect (the change to
plate loaded machines) was smart marketing but does not provide the "real
weight" that it appears to at first glance. The machines I've seen all
provide some mechanical advantage. I guess from a psychological point of
view, it's "like doing freeweights" to the casual gym user.
 >> Stay informed about: Hammer Strength Iso-Lateral bench vs Smith Machine 

"ATP*" <waxwingslain.RemoveThis@azurepane.com> wrote in message
news:YmY_f.114$SO5.101@fe11.lga...
>
> "David Cohen" <sammiesdad.RemoveThis@earthlink.net> wrote in message
> news:%jS_f.3406$sq5.2177@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>>
>> "Myraide" <myraide.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote
>>> David Cohen wrote:
>>>> "Bob Garrison" <bob6333> wrote
>>>> > Same objections?
>>>>
>>>> Hammerstrength machines allow greater freedom of movement, so, they are
>>>> better.
>>>>
>>>> Freedom of movement: dumbbells > barbell > Hammerstrength > Smith.
>>>
>>> so you recommend a dumbell in each hand for all types of presses and
>>> lifts?
>>
>> No. But as freedom of movement of the affected joints decrease, the incidence
>> of problems increase.
>>
>> The Smith machine is SO restrictive in freedom of movement, allowing only one
>> dimensional movement, that the incidence of orthopedic problems is, for me,
>> too high. In this regard, the Hammerstrength machine is better. Is it good
>> enough? Depends. On you, your joints, your age, your weight amounts,
>> etcetera.
>>
>> As machines go, Hammerstrengh ones are amoung the best.
>>
>> David
> The additional freedom of motion is good. The other aspect (the change to
> plate loaded machines) was smart marketing but does not provide the "real
> weight" that it appears to at first glance. The machines I've seen all provide
> some mechanical advantage. I guess from a psychological point of view, it's
> "like doing freeweights" to the casual gym user.

I find the differential to be 5-10 pounds.
 >> Stay informed about: Hammer Strength Iso-Lateral bench vs Smith Machine 

"ATP*" <waxwingslain RemoveThis @azurepane.com> wrote:
>"David Cohen" <sammiesdad RemoveThis @earthlink.net> wrote:
>> "Myraide" <myraide RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote
>>> David Cohen wrote:
>>>> "Bob Garrison" <bob6333> wrote
>>>> > Same objections?
>>>>
>>>> Hammerstrength machines allow greater freedom of movement, so, they are
>>>> better.
>>>>
>>>> Freedom of movement: dumbbells > barbell > Hammerstrength > Smith.
>>>
>>> so you recommend a dumbell in each hand for all types of presses and
>>> lifts?
>>
>> No. But as freedom of movement of the affected joints decrease, the
>> incidence of problems increase.
>>
>> The Smith machine is SO restrictive in freedom of movement, allowing only
>> one dimensional movement, that the incidence of orthopedic problems is,
>> for me, too high. In this regard, the Hammerstrength machine is better. Is
>> it good enough? Depends. On you, your joints, your age, your weight
>> amounts, etcetera.
>>
>> As machines go, Hammerstrengh ones are amoung the best.
>
>The additional freedom of motion is good. The other aspect (the change to
>plate loaded machines) was smart marketing but does not provide the "real
>weight" that it appears to at first glance. The machines I've seen all
>provide some mechanical advantage. I guess from a psychological point of
>view, it's "like doing freeweights" to the casual gym user.

And just because it's a plate-loaded Hammer Strength machine, that
doesn't mean its ergonomics are better than other machines. I won't
do preacher curls with free weights: too much potential for
overextension. I do like the Nautilus preacher curl machine in my
gym. However, when I out of town last fall, I used the Hammer
Strength preacher curl machine in another gym, and I didn't like it at
all. It was much too variable in the force curve. Brand names aren't
always the determinative factor.

That said, most Hammer Strength machines are pretty decent.
 >> Stay informed about: Hammer Strength Iso-Lateral bench vs Smith Machine