Got my Bullworker X-5 today!

[Guest guest]

I received the Bullworker X5 today that I had gotten off of ebay. I'll first

have to say that I am excited to have received it, as I'd never handled one

before, and it is a welcome addition to my Bullworker collection alongside my

Brownie and Lady.

As well as for a collection piece, I had gotten it to see how the two

independent handles feel and whether or not having the independent handles makes

any appreciable difference between the X-5 and the two-tube Bullworker models. I

recall Sherrill making a big deal out of the two independent handles on

the Bully X, spouting a bunch of physiological hogwash, claiming that the two

handles are critical components in a device of this nature, and I wanted to find

out for myself whether or not this is true. It's not true. I went through all of

the Bullworker exercises with the X-5, and concluded that it didn't matter that

there were two independent handles. All resistance is being channeled down a

central shaft, so it doesn't matter if a Bully is made of 2 tubes, 3 tubes, or a

dozen tubes. If anything, having 3 tubes just adds that much more to the

rickitiness of the device. Having two tubes makes things a bit cleaner with less

to wiggle around.

As far as other features are concerned, I'm not too fond of the squared off hard

plastic handles on either end. I find the rounded, ergonomically shaped

compression handles on the Brownie to be much more comfortable. I'm also not too

happy with the feel of the webbing straps. The X-5 uses webbing to create the

block and tackle effect, being able to vary resistance, but that still doesn't

mean that I think they are as comfortable to grab hold of as the round steel,

vinyl encased straps.

All in all, if I had to choose between an X-5 and a Brownie, I would go with the

Brownie, which is essentially the same design as the new Bow Classic. That being

said, there are a few exercises for which the X-5 is well suited. With a raised

grip and flange on the tube portions of the handles, it is ideal for hammer

curls. Grabbing hold of those tube handles and pushing in affords a different

angle on the chest crunch. Doing a shoulder pull with the lighter resistance

enables you to stretch your arms way out there, which adds a variable to doing a

shoulder pull at full throttle. For those three exercises alone the Bullworker

X-5 was worth getting, and as I use it in my workouts, I might find a few more

exercises the X-5 was tailor-made for. And lastly, I think it looks really cool.