Bench Press vs. Hammer Strength Seated Bench Press?

[Simster]

This has been frustrating me for a long time now..
Why is it that I could rep out about 250 (two 45's and a 35 on each arm) on the seated hammer bench press but I could only rep out about 205 (a 45 and 35 on each side) on normal bench press?
I don't understand because my workout friend could rep out 225 on bench press but could only rep about 180 on the seated hammer bench press.. Pretty much the opposite of me. He weighs about 220 and is 6'2 and I am 170 and 5'8 by the way.
If anyone knows the reason behind this please let me know, thanks.

 

[JauntyAngle]

What is a seated hammer bench press?

 

[gentrified]

I think this is it:

 

[Wild Dan Hibiki]

your vagina developed beyond repair when you decided to use the hammer strength machine. that's why

 

[flak]

This has been frustrating me for a long time now..
Why is it that I could rep out about 250 (two 45's and a 35 on each arm) on the seated hammer bench press but I could only rep out about 205 (a 45 and 35 on each side) on normal bench press?
I don't understand because my workout friend could rep out 225 on bench press but could only rep about 180 on the seated hammer bench press.. Pretty much the opposite of me. He weighs about 220 and is 6'2 and I am 170 and 5'8 by the way.
If anyone knows the reason behind this please let me know, thanks.

My guess is, the HS machine was easier for you because it doesn't require you to balance and control a free-moving barbell. Therefore you don't have to involve stabilizer muscles to the same degree you'd need 'em for a barbell.

And I'd bet the HS machine was harder for your friend because he's taller than you. Most strength machines are only adjustable to a limited degree. That means that they're easier to use for people with certain physical dimensions. If your friend's height resulted in him having relatively poor leverage (compared with you) on the HS machine, his performance would suffer accordingly.

Now quit using that silly machine and do some barbell and/or dumbbell bench.

 

[BJ@LW&WW]

I donno much about body building, but is there any reason to use that machine instead of just benching or dumbbell press?

 

[JauntyAngle]

I donno much about body building, but is there any reason to use that machine instead of just benching or dumbbell press?

Yes, your manliness levels and awesomeness levels might be too high, and you might want to reduce them for some reason. E.g. maybe you want to be able to get into a gay bar, so that you can pick up the single straight women who go there and let their defenses down, but when you try to get in, the bouncers say no way you're gay, and won't let you in. So just spend a couple of weeks on the hammer strength thing instead of proper exercises, and bingo-bongo, you're in. Although obviously you shouldn't do it for too long, or you will no longer be interested in the women by the time you get there.

 

[mtruitt76]

I donno much about body building, but is there any reason to use that machine instead of just benching or dumbbell press?

When I have had shoulder issues in the past I found I could use the hammer strength machine without discomfort, but I could not bench press. The angle of the grip seems to put less stress on my shoulders.

If you don't have any shoulder issues there really is no reason to use the hammer strength machine

 

[KnuckleSangwich]

When I have had shoulder issues in the past I found I could use the hammer strength machine without discomfort, but I could not bench press. The angle of the grip seems to put less stress on my shoulders.

I'd actually like to hear more on this, is the hammer strength machine an acceptable replacement for BP if you have a shoulder injury? I would imagine if the shoulder is injured to the point that BP isn't a possibility than most pressing movements barbell or otherwise shouldn't be practiced. But if one is experiencing a minor discomfort and wants to lay off BPing for a week or two to heal up would the HS machine be advisable?

To the TS: bench more.'

Edit: Also, this guy owns you:

 

[ThePitBull32]

When I have had shoulder issues in the past I found I could use the hammer strength machine without discomfort, but I could not bench press. The angle of the grip seems to put less stress on my shoulders.

If you don't have any shoulder issues there really is no reason to use the hammer strength machine

Really? I tried the hammer strength when I had a shoulder injury from bp. I found that because the machine has a fixed path of movement, it aggravated my shoulder more. I was able to do light bench press without discomfort, but not the machine.

 

[quickdry]

flak is bang on the money.

I'm 6'1" and tried to use that hammer bench press thing and I feel so constricted, it makes it hard to move much, meanwhile I see shorter guys going at it hammer and tong. So it is pretty useless except at the very end when I'm too worn out to do a proper lift.

 

[El Beebo]

When I have had shoulder issues in the past I found I could use the hammer strength machine without discomfort, but I could not bench press. The angle of the grip seems to put less stress on my shoulders.

If you don't have any shoulder issues there really is no reason to use the hammer strength machine

I've had similar experiences, particularly after a bad 3rd degree shoulder separation. Benching (or even push-ups) caused me pain 6 months after the injury, but I found a couple of bench-type machines that didn't cause me problems. IMO, there's nothing wrong with using machines when rehabbing injuries.

 

[Simster]

After reading everyone's posts, I think it is cause my physique that causes me to lift dfferently. I too have shoulder problems because I was runningback this year, do I am def. not too stable when benching. I have long arms for my height also so I think that affects it too. I'm only 17 though so hopefully I will keep growing. Thanks for the help and yeah, that guy' a beast in that vid haha and I too agree that bench press is for men compared to hammer strength imo.
Posted via Mobile Device

 

[mtruitt76]

I'd actually like to hear more on this, is the hammer strength machine an acceptable replacement for BP if you have a shoulder injury? I would imagine if the shoulder is injured to the point that BP isn't a possibility than most pressing movements barbell or otherwise shouldn't be practiced. But if one is experiencing a minor discomfort and wants to lay off BPing for a week or two to heal up would the HS machine be advisable?

Personally I don't think a machine can ever truly replace free weights, but as far as machines go I think hammer strength are better than other ones.

In may case I had a condition where the bones in my shoulder were too close together or something along those lines, I forget what the doctor called it. It was a situation where I had discomfort while benching and was not able to lift as much weight. I just found that I could use the hammer strength machine without any discomfort and could lift as much as I could handle without discomfort.

I don't have a good explanation as to why this was the case, but my best guess is the angle of hand placement on the hammer strength machine. I have gotten to where I can bench, but I am careful not to overdue it. Also if I feel any discomfort in my shoulder I go back to the hammer strength for a month or two.

Really? I tried the hammer strength when I had a shoulder injury from bp. I found that because the machine has a fixed path of movement, it aggravated my shoulder more. I was able to do light bench press without discomfort, but not the machine.

We probably had different shoulder issues. My problem came from two bones being too close together. If my condition got too bad the remedy would be a surgery to shave the end of the bone off a little, but this would only be if the discomfort became too unbearable. I basically have a structural problem with my should more so than an injury. I do get to look forward to arthritis in shoulder when I get older according to the doctor.

 

[VoodooPlata]

>Seen vid many times, chuckled everytime
>See it again on Sherdog
>Suddenly notice the guy is hanging weights on the handles of the machine
>mfw

 

[TeddyRoosevelt]

This has been frustrating me for a long time now..
Why is it that I could rep out about 250 (two 45's and a 35 on each arm) on the seated hammer bench press but I could only rep out about 205 (a 45 and 35 on each side) on normal bench press?

Hammer press does not tax your "stabilizing muscles" as much, thus making the exercise "easier" for most people.

 

[KnightTemplar]

>Seen vid many times, chuckled everytime
>See it again on Sherdog
>Suddenly notice the guy is hanging weights on the handles of the machine
>mfw

Does "Joe" now hold the World Record for Shortest Ever ROM?

 

[Baconator69**]

your vagina developed beyond repair when you decided to use the hammer strength machine. that's why

this

 

[PussyPants]

Edit: Also, this guy owns you:

That's the kind of strength one can achieve through careful vigilance over one's essence.

 

[KILL KILL]

I hate that video more than anything in the world. herpes, aids, and naudi aguilar included