@Skip and
@Kev this makes me feel so much better. I was traveling this week and found a gym to hit one day but they only had competition bells like this. I’m in the middle of a program with 2X28s and it kicked my a#@ way worse than I expected. There was a couple sets where I almost couldn’t get lockout on the 3rd rep and I was like wtf!? Definitely a different groove on the press.
In my (limited admittedly) experience of trying to do hardstyle with comp bells, it feels like I'm gripping the bell handle less powerfully, and that leads to less activation of the muscles I'm trying to use, which makes it harder. I'm assuming that's part of the reason for the GS style of swinging, all loose and using momentum for as many reps as possible. Just a different approach from the outset.
For hardstyle bells, I keep being surprised by the difference handle shape/height can make to how a bell cleans and presses. There's a learning curve with each different brand and weight of bell. But I like that, it's like bonding with your tools!
Part of the reason I like hardstyle bells is I psychologically expect a heavier tool to be bigger, swing different. Like my hammers - if my my 4lb lump was the same size as my 8lb ball-peen or 14lb sledge that'd just be... weird
I've gone off on a tangent, haven't I?