Are kettlebells any good?

[Nick]

What makes them better for doing snatches and stuff with kettlebells rather than a normal weight?

[Kirves]

Basically, the idea behind kettlebells is that the center of the weight is outside your fist. When you hold a dumbbell for example, you are literally holding the center of it's gravity. But when you are holding a handle which is just attached to the weight outside, it makes it very much harder. Imagine that you are holding a very heavy briefcase. Then imagine holding it so that the actual case is not hanging down under your fist but to the side horizontally! It takes a helluva grip to work with the kettlebells.

[EViLRYU]

Any good? For training? No. Good for hitting people, that's about it. If you want size and strength, free weights and machines can't be beat.

[koto_ryu]

Any good? For training? No. Good for hitting people, that's about it. If you want size and strength, free weights and machines can't be beat.

^^ Umm, kettlebells are free weights :P