A hammer is a great tool. So is a saw. Just choose the right one.

Exercise Selection: Hammers vs. Saws – When building a house, you use tons of different tools. Each of these tools is best suited for a specific job and should be used a certain way. If you try to use a hammer as a saw, your results will be poor. It’s the same thing with training: there are lots of tools to use to improve our bodies. While each tool is effective for its own purpose, it might suck for others.

Kettlebell swings are great for conditioning and can also be used to practice rhythm and force absorption, but they have a limited value when it comes to hypertrophy and strength development.

The Olympic lift variations improve strength-speed and can have a moderate impact on strength, but they’re not that great when used to build muscle mass and can be dangerous if used to improve conditioning.

Big basic barbell lifts are your best bet to improve strength. They can also be useful for hypertrophy, but for many people, they’re not enough to maximize growth. Using them to build endurance might not be the best idea either due to the technique degradation that comes with fatigue.

A hammer is a great tool. So is a saw. Just choose the right one for the right job.