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Exercise guide

Sledgehammer Swings

How to do the Sledgehammer Swings with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

CompoundOtherBeginnerPull
Primary muscles

Abs

Secondary

Calves, Forearms, Lats, Mid Back, Shoulders

Equipment

Other

Step by step

How to do the Sledgehammer Swings

  1. 1

    You will need a tire and a sledgehammer for this exercise. Stand in front of the tire about two feet away from it with a staggered stance. Grip the sledgehammer.

  2. 2

    If you are right handed, your left hand should be at the bottom of the handle, and your right hand should be choking up closer to the head.

  3. 3

    As you bring the sledge up, your right hand slides toward the head; as you swing down, your right hand will slide down to join your left hand. Slam it down as hard as you can against the tire. Control the bounce of the hammer off of the tire.

  4. 4

    Repeat on the other side.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Sledgehammer Swings set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap — so your abs volume is visible at a glance — and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More abs exercises

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