I am curious and doing a little bit of an informal survey. I'd appreciate any info y'all are willing to give me:

Have you ever swung a Gada before? AKA A mace constructed from wood and stone instead of steel?

If not would you? Are you interested in the idea? If still no, why not?

If you have swung one what did you think? What did you like about it? What didn't you like? Do you own both steel and "organic" maces? Which do you prefer? Which do you swing on a more regular basis?

And one last question: What is your training like? Is it all clubs and maces? Are kettlebells involved too? Do maces support a barbell-focused routine? A strongman routine? Do you like other unconventional training styles like sandbag lifting?

Thanks in advance!

Hi macers:

Do you find the need to count your reps? Does it matter to you? A friend asked me to build an app that counts his reps but I want to understand from the community if this is something that people are looking for.

I just did a conditioning session that included a 20 minute swing in there. For whoever may be interested I've included my heart rate data (and a picture of the 2 gadas I went back and forth between for the 20 minutes.) Looking at the graph I'm averaging about 130bpm across these 20 minutes.

I used two adjustable gadas for this: one loaded with 10lbs and one loaded with 22.5lbs. I went back and forth between a few different swing styles which helped with some of the mental challenge (maybe more of a bug than a feature depending on what you're after.)

But for more specificity I did some traditional swings, I did some swings off the shoulder with more hip rotation, I did some of my own little variations where I incorporate some "flowiness" into the typical swing.

At first I'm just warming up but then that first big bump there is me swinging the 22.5 and then catching in either arm out to the side (before of course launching it back into another swing.)

Later I put on some of Paul Taras Wolkowinski's Zurkhaneh [styled] music and tried to keep the 22.5 on beat. I think that may be the other bump. It stays kind of high in the end because that's when I was doing those swings off the shoulder.

Maybe this is interesting, maybe its nothing. I dunno. But if its something here's some data for you to check out.

https://preview.redd.it/wpn5nsyu46ge1.png?width=2400&format=png&auto=webp&s=f2282d7ba26735202b5dc30459777be6d8870e18

So I bought my clubs a while ago while I was buying some other used equipment. He had 2x15lb onnit clubs and a 35#. I'm a big dude and thought they'd be easy. I was definitely wrong and honestly avoided them due to pre-existing long term shoulder issues. Then I grabbed them and started doing real simple stuff like holding them upright in a 90 degree arm angle and learning stability. Every time I worked out I grabbed them and tried some other movements and slowly got comfortable. 4 months later my pre-existing shoulder stuff is all but gone and now I just have the pains of wanting the 55lb but live on a high school teacher budget.

Looking for a starter 7-10 lbs preferably with a pommel. Any recommendations? Amazon has some but not sure of length and grip width are good for small body structure (5' 6" and 165 lb).

I've come across a lot of rope flow stuff on YT recently, looks interesting. Does anyone here practice this? What if anything do you feel it adds is you already exercise with clubs and maces?

ALCON, I have been looking to get into mace swinging for some time. My goal is to help overhead mobility and shoulder health as well as to complement my KB practice. My heart says to go all in on a Rogue mace, but my wallet says something like the wooden EZ Mace is the right way to go. Has anyone used the wooden EZ Mace? If so, do you think it's a good value?

Ok just got my first steel mace 6kg. To say this has humbled me would be an understatement. I have mobility and strength issues with my left shoulder. Any advice on exercises to start and progression. Looking for long term use.

I just tweaked my shoulder today doing inside mills with a 15lb steel club. I have good mobility and have been using clubs for a year or so at this point, but I was pushing the reps too high and my form was breaking down. Learned my lesson.

Have y’all ever injured your shoulders swinging clubs and maces? What did you do (besides resting) to help the rehab process?

I'm just starting out, having fun with the mace so far. I'm doing swings for my shoulders, bicep curls, triceps etc. Are there any exercises, apart from just laying down and pressing, that isolate pecs? I tried Google but I just keep getting the same AI search results, which aren't very helpful. TIA

I’m just curious what body parts do hammer swings hit? Is it’s more of a complex movement so it hits trunk engagement and abs too? It looks like it would strain my shoulders going around my back.

looking to buy my first mace and thought this would be a good choice since i can increase the weight, but was curious if at empty (10 lbs) is enough of the weight at the end or is it evenly distributed? planning to start at 10 lbs so want to make sure i get something good to start but also dont mind investing for the future.

https://become-stronger.com/products/15-loadable-mace?variant=31748915691657&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOooheT7GJ3iCwZ3OTX71EkIv-HOu9M-xvFuqnUEz0uhe_Rp4bRqVOtU&gQT=1

How conscious are people about balance of movement?

Take the 2 handed 360, you've left hand on top over right ear, left on top over left, right hand on top over right and right hand right ear.

I've definitely a preferred grip and direction, as I'm sure we all do.

With my 10 this morning I did 10 rounds of 40 360 and 20 press up. The 360s were 20 in either direction, and 5 sets of reg grip and alt grip. So even in both direction and grip

Do other people do this?

Ordered a 8kg club just before Christmas, got it yesterday. Left to right is 8kg club, homemade gada is 6.6kg, adjustable is at 8.7kg, and the 3kg Amazon special. Also a 30kg sandbag I've added to my week for a bit more hypertrophy and overall strength.