Are those Hammer Strength chest machines worthwhile for hypertrophy?

[leena2016]

@knowledgeisnotignorant I'm not a big fan of the ones in your example pics specifically & the reason is that the lever which the plates attach to is pointed at about a 45 degree angle towards the floor & when you lift the weight, it gets to be about parallel with the floor, which means it's hardest at the top. You're generally better off when the movement is harder in the lengthened position, such as a barbell bench, dumbbell bench, smith machine bench, or some other machine that is simply designed so that it fits this bill.

 

[magito22]

@knowledgeisnotignorant If you want a good stretch, just do it using cables, also the movement pattern will be more flexible and can be adjusted according to one's body.

 

[takkles]

@knowledgeisnotignorant Life Fitness is not Hammer Strength. Genuine Hammer Strength is the bomb and I only wish my gym had them. But it has shitty Matrix machines only. For me at least Hammer and Smith are superior to free weights in terms of training for hypertrophy and isolation. But Life Fitness and Cybex are both very good. I hate Matrix with a passion.

 

[sean123]

@takkles Life Fitness owns Hammer Strength.

 

[takkles]

@sean123 I wasn’t aware of that but I’ve used both their incline plate loaded and like Hammer Strength better.

 

[francoadham]

@takkles I like the matrix standard converging chest press machine (tha handles are still weird though). Everything else that I've tried from matrix just feels "wrong" but I can't put my finger on why exactly.

 

[takkles]

@francoadham I know the machine you’re talking about-it’s the pin stack one right (not plate-loaded)? I agree it’s ok and it’s the only Matrix machine I use in my gym. But Life Fitness and Nautilus pin stack chest are way better.

 

[francoadham]

@takkles Yes! The pin loaded one. That machine actually feels great for me. I 100% agree on LF and naut machines being way better all around.

 

[seayain]

@francoadham Why is it so damn weird though? The angle I'm pressing at doesn't feel right. The grips seem too close together, and it some sense this machine hits my Tris way harder than my pecs.

Usually though it gets my shoulder wrong. And I do progressively overload it but so much about the motion doesn't feel right.

Until your lowering right back to the start and you actually feel a deep stretch across your shoulders and chest. This part feels good.

I actually jack the seat up to max height and I'm 6'3 just to press it more downward, try to tilt my body back in the seat as much as possible to make it more like a decline press.

I feel like part of the problem Is my wingspan is literally too wide/big for the average proportions and lengths this machine would've been built for.

I still progressively overload this, flyes. And a machine weight assisted pullup/dip station. (Dips on this day, deep rom on dips with really slow controlled reps)

Trying to nail what feels wrong is hard. I've said a few things, but ultimately, it just doesn't feel right. Some part of the motion is unnatural compared to what you'd do with a bench or dumbell press or the hammer strength press

 

[needheaven]

@takkles The linked images show machines with a hammer strength brand label on them

 

[heartfire]

@takkles Matrix leg machines are great

 

[faithfulfollowerofyeshua]

@knowledgeisnotignorant They're good to use after doing free weights to finish up your workout. However, my latest gym has the Atlantis Strength pieces, which I love pressing with more, so I all but stopped using them.

 

[dawn16]

@knowledgeisnotignorant I do them after exercises like BB/DB/smith bench press in a higher rep range and think they're great. Maybe not "optimal" but that word is dumb any vway and my gym doesn't have any good machine chest presses.

 

[jhesze03]

@knowledgeisnotignorant Personally I only feel these on my shoulder rather than my chest but they seem to be really popular. Smith works way better for me.

 

[notsure17]

@knowledgeisnotignorant Why wouldn't they be?

 

[livingme7]

@knowledgeisnotignorant Use a small pad or ab mat to increase the stretch.

 

[learningasigo]

@knowledgeisnotignorant Ive tried the Flat hammer strength chest press and iso Lateral row, I think both are nice but ive heard mix thoughts on the Flat machine.

While we are discussing machines I got a question, is there any reason to do the seated Hammer strength leg press?

Not talking about the linear leg press, I do linear on one day already and its hella boring to do it twice a week.

 

[mrsneko]

@knowledgeisnotignorant If they have a good resistance curve and you can progress on them whilst seeing progress in your physique, yes they are worth it. However don't rely solely on a single machine. Personally, I don't feel my chest as much on any exercise as I do on the converging chest press machines.

Check out this video from basement bodybuilding about machines

 

[stallions]

@knowledgeisnotignorant If you can find something to use an a thick back pad then youd be able to get a great stretch. I find the resistance curve a little strange but when youre close to failure you can switch to lengthened partials and bang a few more out

 

[danielteberian]

@knowledgeisnotignorant My gym is a fully kitted hammer strength gym, and I love all of the chest pieces but that one incline press.

Just feels so awkward. I feel like the seat needs to be inclined a little rather then being Straight up.