Had a master smith tell me my hammer grip was too tight at a demo in Tennessee

I was at the Smoky Mountain Forge conference back in March. This old timer walks right up while I'm forging a leaf keychain and says 'you're strangling that handle, son.' I got defensive at first. Been swinging a hammer for 3 years. But he showed me how he just lets it ride loose in his hand and only squeezes at the impact. I switched to that grip the next day and my elbow pain went away within a week. Now I can work a 4 hour session without icing my arm. Has anyone else had a small tweak from a random critique that totally changed your forging?

3 comments

3 Comments

spencer_gonzalez115d ago

Man, I gotta disagree. Tried that loose grip thing for a month and couldn't get consistent hits to save my life. Tight grip gives me way better control and I just take a break when my arm gets tired.

charles72015d ago

Light grip worked for me after I quit tensing up.

fiona_hunt7115d ago

Interesting point @spencer_gonzalez1, did you ever try backing off the grip just a tiny bit at a time?