Just realized after a demo in an old barn that my hammer swing was all wrong

I was working on knocking down an old beam in a barn outside of Lancaster last month. After about 20 minutes, a retired farrier walked past and said I was wasting my energy swinging from the shoulder. He showed me how to let the hammer head do the work using my wrist and elbow. I tried his way and the same strike hit twice as hard without wearing me out. Now I am wondering if I should change my whole technique or stick with what I am used to. It felt awkward at first but the results were undeniable. Has anyone else had someone correct their basic form and stuck with the new way long term?

3 comments

3 Comments

simon7172mo ago

Bought a cheap sledgehammer after that and it threw my back out for a week.

alice3362mo ago

Wait, @simon717 you threw your back out with a cheap sledge? That sounds brutal! A bad hammer really messes up your whole body if the weight is off.

the_jana1mo ago

Not gonna lie, I did basically the same thing with a cheap splitting maul last year. The head felt loose after like 10 swings but I kept going because I was stubborn. Spent the next three days moving like a rusty robot. Your mileage may vary, but I swear by a solid 8 pounder now even if it costs a bit more. That cheap one is still sitting in my garage as a reminder not to cheap out on things that involve momentum and my spine.