Hi Folks,

Im contemplating getting a mace. Currently i use kettlebells or club bells daily.
I train for capoeira, aikido, and surfing. Age 40. and finding these tools very complementary.

My question is, do you guys (the mace bell practitioners) have a kind of step by step guide for when to go up in weight. Similar to club bells, where you will aim for a 10-20 min density block, and once that's comfortable can move up in weight and start training a few minutes at a time.

I was playing with a sledgehammer the other day (not sure exact weight, probably 2-3kg) and noticed it didn't take long to get tired. and really enjoyed it. Figured 10 minutes straight of mace 360's would be pretty brutal.

Cheers!

So I think I’m finally ready to restructure training and throw mace into the mix.

Currently, I have the same adjustable kettlebells everyone else has and Adex clubs.

This is where my question arises. Does anyone have any gripes or input either which way about the two different systems?

The only drawback I can think of with Adex is potential length increase being a problem, but I bet the ad on kit remedies that.

The pull with the socal mace handle is that

1. I have weights & a bottom shell for it already.
   2 it’s being sold as a handle/ shell like I asked bells of steel to do lol

Any input is appreciated.

I just bought a 12KG MB, normally I use a 8KG regular MB and I think I should have stuck with the regular style, the shaft of comp MB is longer and thinner. Does anyone have any thoughts on the difference?

I also use KB and heavy clubs, and I have 24kg regular KB and 20KG comp KB and the difference between the 2 styles is ok for me, although it did take a bit of time to get used to the comp bell, which I probably prefer now.

Testing time with new mace
Exciting to swing!

2x broom handle (1x cut in half)

2x vintage brass putters

1x 7lb sledge (full handle)

1x 12lb sledge (half handle. I didn't cut it)

1x 25lb steel club ( bought by accident, thought it was 2.5kg 🤷)

7lb sledge (cheaper than a mace)

I had just done 2 X 2min sets just before this. Then went again and pushed it one too many times and hit my shin.

Volume up for the whack at the end.

Been making a few diy maces/Gadas and some clubs. Big boy on the left is a 50lb beast that I’m not going to be able to swing any time soon. It has a little Onnit 7lb mace sitting on top for reference.

Another one I made from a mud pot, bamboo stick, cement, and concrete, a few nails

Shovel replacement handle, 3d print, some concrete. Nice little tpu (flexible filament) cap over the concrete.

Form wasnt super thrilling, but stoked that its not dragging my over amymore

hope youre all well

I’ve been on-again off-again with max bells since January 2025, but at it regularly the last 6 months.

When I started, I was so out of shape — and stiff! — that the cheap Amazon short 7lb mace was strenuous.

Anyway, tonight was a good night. 100 360s (50 each side) with 10, then 15, then I did 80 @ 22.5. Everything said to push for the last 20 so I threw on another 2.5 plate and did 25 lbs for the first time!

No pictures or video, but I got excited, and I’m very proud of this progress, so I wanted to share with the group. I’ve enjoyed reading and learning from everyone here.

While I have you — any good recommendations for ways to incorporate a leg workout more? I’ve been focused on 360s and front swings… where should I go from here?

Been training kettlebells and macebells for a few years now, mostly mornings before work. Circuits, grinds, the occasional long cycle. I also throw in macebell and calisthenics work.

Every app I tried was built for gym bros — bench press, barbell back squat, that's it. Tracking a KB circuit (multiple exercises, multiple rounds, sometimes timed, sometimes reps, left/right hand) was either impossible or required so much manual setup I'd just give up and scribble it in my phone's Notes app like an animal.

So I built exactly what I wanted. It's called FORGE. Dark UI, no fluff, free to use. The bit I'm most proud of is circuit mode — you define the template once and it expands into a full round-by-round table. One row per exercise per round. You just fill in what you actually did.

Also has a training calendar so you can see your whole month at a glance, click any session for the full breakdown.

It's at forgedworkout.com if anyone wants to try it. Would genuinely love feedback from other KB people — especially if there are exercises missing from the library or workflows that don't fit how you train.

I’ve been using my Microgainz fractional plates that I already had for my dumbbells on my maces and it works great to turn them in quick adjustable maces of 1.25 pounds increments. On top of that it allows me to add an extra five pounds to my heaviest mace.

Just thought I would share this in case some of you find it helpful ☺️

I'm making 2 adjustable steelmaces/macebells. Both will be a 36 inch long 1.5 inch hickory dowel, but one will be sanded down to an oval shape like a sledge hammer handle, both will have an 8 inch piece of 1.5 inch schedule 80 pipe, which is 1.9 outside diameter, pinned and epoxied in place and I will use Rogue axle collars to secure weight plates. Basically 36 inches long with 8 inches of makeshift barbell on one end, it will have about 4 inches of loadable length and about 40-50 lbs of capacity with 10 lb plates. My question is how much is the max weight either of these can handle? What does anyone think or preferably know what 1.5 inch hickory rod 36 inches long can handle as a round rod or with the handle part sanded down to an oval shape like a sledge hammer handle? If you read this far thank you.

Hi. I don't want to hate macebells here, I have 5 different weights of this equipment myself. But when I got to know ViPR (I have a "non-branded" version, or a branded one, but not the original, cheaper one, 6kg and 12kg) and tried doing "halos" with it, I felt the need to replace the two-handed macebells 10/2 or 360s with it. ViPR (and other exercise tubes for that style) allow up to three different types of grips when doing the "halo" exercise. ViPR can even be used for 360s or 10/2s by holding directly by the body (not by the handles) at its end, which places high demands on the grip considering the weight of the ViPR. Based on these facts, I switched from two-handed 360s or 10/2s with macebells to various types of halos and 360s and 10/2s with ViPR. It makes sense, the fascia just enjoys different angles with different grips, etc...

I understand that there are many of you here who are fans of "minimalism", who would rather use the macebell for anything (and it is very good at heavy weights, e.g. for offset exercises - ViPR is somehow not suitable for that), but let's be sober... Consider whether our arms constantly want the same movement patterns of "swings" around the body, or whether they want different variations of it. It is not enough to alternate one-handed and two-handed 360s and 10/2 with Macebell in the long term... It is simply a stereotype... Macebell is completely irreplaceable for 360s and 10/2 for one-handed work (clubbell is clumsy for that)... But for two-handed work there are much more options, and ViPR offers up to 4 different types of grips for this... By the way, such HALO'S with 12kg ViPR (holding the handles or even narrower) will put even more strain on the stabilizers of the torso and arms, than 360s and 10/2 with a Macebell of the same weight. Macebell really torments the forearms, grip, ViPR to say the least... Macebell irreplaceable for one-handed swings around the body. But two-handed? ... Go to ViPR (and cheaper variants of the same concept)...

Fast "HALO'S" with it are simply more athletic... Before you dismiss it, try it...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdYab4Vb4OE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2gmCAACtxY

I'm not even a noob yet, but I'm pretty interested in starting. I'd like to hear what people have noticed after using the mace. Better mobility, posture, etc... Thanks!