Kettlebell Stupid question (probably)

[Kettlebelephant]

If I remember correctly, I believe Pavel wrote something to the effect of "muscled in the right places" upon completion of the ROP. (Going through a cycle once and not hitting a 1/2 bw press or the 200 snatches is not completing the ROP)

Sure doubles put on mass because it's obviously a heavier weight. But one shouldn't overlook other factors for muscle such as time under tension. It takes twice as long to complete "x" reps per side than to complete "x" reps simultaneously with doubles.

Doubles might be better for overall mass, but e.g. ROP is better for specific mass in the upper body.
You can press more with one arm than with both arms simultaneously (like when doing doubles), somewhere Pavel describes why that is.
If you e.g. do C&P ladders with double 24s, you're most likely able to do the same ladders (-> the same volume) with a single 28 or 32.
Your legs and hips have to do more work during doubles, because they have to move and support 48Kg, but your arms, shoulders and upper back (lats) still only work with 24Kg each. That's obviously less weight per arm than working with a single 28 or 32.
So during single KB work the load per arm (and therefore strength + hypertrophy response) is actually higher.

Of course TUT does play a role which is way higher during single work.
Asymmetry is also a factor. During doubles your core has to support more weight, but on the other hand it has to work differently during singles. For example I'd bet your obliques work harder during singles.

Dan John's take on this: The One Arm Press

IMO the double FSQ beats the single version and the snatch beats the double snatch, but for all the other lifts it's a matter of preference.
It's not like you can reach a certain amount of hypertrophy only with doubles and wouldn't be able to achieve it with singles.
Hypertrophy with KBs is limited in general, so pick the version (singles or doubles) you like more. In the long run your progress and success will be the same.
Want more hypertrophy than that? Go and lift barbells.


On the topic why there are more single KB programs:

IMO because KBs have a certain niche -> the single ballistics used for strength-endurance and endurance. There's no competition there.
Double KB routines are most of the time designed for hypertrophy or max. strength. They have to compete with the barbell routines and if we're honest the barbell routines are simply better for both goals.

Also the KB is a minimalistic, versatile tool. The routines should and want to reflect that.
Needing two of every KB kind of diminishes the minimalistic nature.

 

[User 6372]

@Kettlebelephant

Well damn. Here I had constructed a rebuttal, but realized I can't argue with your logic.

 

[Kettlebelephant]

@Mark Kidd

MO because KBs have a certain niche -> the single ballistics used for strength-endurance and endurance. There's no competition there.
Double KB routines are most of the time designed for hypertrophy or max. strength. They have to compete with the barbell routines and if we're honest the barbell routines are simply better for both goals.

To add to this. Of course there's is Girevoy Sport, which makes heavy use of doubles (C&J and Jerk) with another goal than max. strength or hypertrophy.
GS is based on strength-endurance and endurance, but there really aren't any routines. At least none that I know of.
There's no EtK or S&S equivalent for GS and therefore it's not beginner-friendly.
GS has its own niche inside the KB community and isn't really known outside of that community, so its somewhat of a "niche within a niche"-thing.