THE ORIGINAL. THE BEST. THE MACEBELL.

What size Mace Bell to start?

Greetings all. I'm new to mace bells - have never tried one although I do a sort of 360 with my home-made Club Bells. I've worked with these home-made clubs for a year and with kettlebells for three years. My goal is to lose fat and add more cardio during the day.

I'm 6'1" and weigh 300 lbs (currently obese) but still pretty strong and still pretty good cardio. The weight gain is fairly recent - since retiring from the military.

How do you go about deciding what weight and length of mace bell to use?

Swinging the clubs around my torso tells me not to underestimate this tool! So that says to me "GO LIGHT TO START" (5 or 7.5 Kg) . . . on the other hand, I'd like to start out with a Torque mace and that will be the only one I can buy for a while so I need something to grow into . . . so that says to me "GO MODERATELY HEAVY (10-12.5 Kg)."

As far as arm length . . . my hands reach mid-thing when standing straight.

Any help appreciated.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Linus Callahan on December 19, 2009 at 1:42pm: My advice is to go for the 10kg.

I am 5'10" and I was about 275 when I got my first macebell. I started with a 10kg and it was tough, but doable. Now I can handle it very confidently - I can even do a few one-handed 360s (with my dominant hand).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rik Brown on December 19, 2009 at 1:54pm: Hi John,I've got to agree with Linus and say start with 10kg because you should be able to work with it a little at first and in short order you will progress to where you can do sets lasting about 60sec.(about 30 reps in the 360 degree movement)When you can do that you can swing for 60 seconds then rest for 60 seconds and continue that for a great cardio blast. Then,to take it up a level just extend your set time like 90 seconds and decrease your rest time to like 30 seconds and take that as far as you can,that way your 10kg Macebell will be something you can never outgrow.Good luck and get to swinging!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by John Wint on December 19, 2009 at 4:08pm: Linus and Rick . . . thanks for the info . . . sounds like a 10 Kg it is!

By the way, I saw that Steve Maxwell made his own and it came out to around 12 lbs (5 Kg ?) . . . I thought I'd do that too while waiting for the real one to arrive . . . and as a supplement . . . like maybe practice with the Torque 10 Kg and then hit the lighter one . . .

Once again, thanks guys.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jake Shannon on December 20, 2009 at 12:43pm: 10KG. Always start there. It will last you forever. The 10KG is still my preferred Macebell (just go for higher and higher reps!); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dallas Donovan on March 7, 2010 at 8:41pm: I had the same question as well. I am now about to start, too. So 10KG it is going to be. My KB training looks like it is going to be put to the test for sure!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dallas Donovan on April 5, 2010 at 11:14pm: My beginner's perspective --
I took the advice and got the 10 KB Macebell. I will admit that this was a very difficult weight for me to start with (but not impossible). I was able to make noticeable progress on each session. After two and a half weeks of hard work, I am feeling more comfortable with the 10K.

If you are a naturally strong guy or you are a (male) fitness athlete w/o any serious spine or shoulder issues, then 10 KB is probably going to be the best size for you. You can start and grow into it. I qualified (just barely) for this size, and I feel like this is the right weight if I had to choose only one macebell to purchase (I wouldn't have wanted lighter or heavier as my only mace).

If you are only a weekend warrior, a casual lifter, have any back or shoulder issues, or if you are just not naturally as strong, I wouldn't recommend this weight. Go light!

As for the girls, I would defer to the experts on this site, but I am thinking that the light macebell may be best.

Of course, I am neither a doctor or trainer, but I hope this can be helpful to newbies.; ▶ Reply to This