8 lb vs. 12?

[thtrchic]

I've been doing No-S for a bit and am thinking about adding Shovelglove. And for that I'm thinking about what size sledgehammer to use. I've been doing some lifting of free weights, mostly 8 pound ones (per hand). But I'm not in great shape and not too strong (yet). Since between my two arms I do many exercises holding 16 pounds I'd think a 12 pound hammer would be the way to go, but reading posts that sounds like it might be too hard. Does anyone have any insight here?

Thanks.
Julie

[jules]

hi Julie, I'd recommend starting with the 8 lb hammer. I was able to do bicep curls w/ freeweights that were heavier than 8 lbs but the 8 lb hammer was much harder. It's a lot different with the weight on the end of a stick!

jules

[zoolina]

I have a 6.6 lb. hammer, and though I'm pretty strong (historically) and though some exercises feel easy with it, I can hardly imagine a 12 lber.

If I could choose again, I'd go with the 8 lb myself. Best of luck; Shovelgloving is an amazing upper body workout!

[reinhard]

12 pounds at the end of a stick is much heavier than 12 pounds right in your hand. 12 pounds is on the heavy side for a 6 foot guy to start with. 8 pounds will be plenty hard.

Reinhard

[gratefuldeb67]

Get one that's 10 lbs...
The exist too
Not too hard not too easy..
Juuuuust right!
hahah..
Actually, my advice to you is that one really needs to just try them out in the store.. It should feel like it's doing something..
I don't think 8 lbs will be sufficient, but that's just me..
Of course I have no clue what kind of body frame/type you are.
Maybe it's just fine..
My issue is committing to the 14 minutes.. Uch!
Our bodies adapt mighty fast, as long as you don't overwork them and go gingerly in the first few days..
Go to your local hardware store and try them out..
Then go and order them from Reinhards Amazon link..

Peace and Love,
Debs

[Kevin]

I think I would start with an eight pound hammer, although Deb seems to do fine with a 10.

I think 12 might be over-the-top unless you're really strong. I just walked through Sports Authority and curled a 30 pound dumbell with one arm 10 times pretty easily. I just bought a 16 pounder, and it's plenty heavy. But I go at it awful hard.

[thtrchic]

Thanks very much for all the advice. I'll take myself to a hardware store.

Julie

[gratefuldeb67]

Hey Kev
Mine is actually 12, but it's sitting around these days.
When I actually swing it around, it's the perfect weight for me.
Peace,
Debs

[fungus]

12 pounds is on the heavy side for a 6 foot guy to start with. 8 pounds will be plenty hard.

I'd have said "10".

8 pounds will be hard for the first couple of weeks but you'll soon be heading for the upgrade.

[david]

Better too light than too heavy! You will teach yourself bad form if the hammer is too heavy and your chances of injury go way up.

I usually use a 16# hammer, but this morning I used a 10# with my hands at the end of the shaft as if I was holding a sword. It was really difficult! I could have a difficult 14 minutes with an 8# hammer as well. How you use the tool is important and all too often underemphasized in these weight discussions.

--david

[Farnsrocket]

Definitely the 8. I just started my 2nd month this week and am incorporating the 12 in to my routine.

[Kevin]

You're really using a 12 pound hammer? Wow.

I'm using a 16 now. It's not easy. 20 flip the levers with my elbow at the end of the handle and that's all she wrote!

thtrchic, another thought for you... find a handle that's comfortable in your grip. My new 16 pounder has a thin handle, and it's much harder to hold for a whole workout. I much preferred the fiberglass handle on my 10 pounder or the heavy wood handle on my 14 pounder. I'm thinking about replacing the handle with a nice fiberglass one...