Why we chose Nautilus and Hammer Strength equipment
Why we chose Nautilus and Hammer Strength equipment
Training Day isn't just about having equipment. It's about having the right equipment. Here's why Nautilus machines and Hammer Strength machines feature prominently at our Clayton, Burwood, and Scoresby gyms, and how they help you get stronger, faster.
Equipment That Actually Works With Your Body
Walk into most commercial gyms and you'll see rows of shiny machines chosen for how they look in photos. At Training Day, we take a different approach.
Every piece of equipment in our 24-hour gyms has been carefully selected by passionate gym enthusiasts and approved by qualified trainers. We don't chase trends or buy equipment because it's flashy. We choose equipment that works with your body's natural mechanics to deliver real, sustainable results.
This is why you'll find Hammer Strength equipment in Scoresby and Clayton. Not because they're the most expensive or the newest, but because they're built around solid biomechanical principles that have been proven for over 50 years.
The Science Behind Variable Resistance
Here's something most people don't realise about traditional gym equipment: your muscles aren't equally strong throughout their entire range of motion.
Think about a bicep curl. You're strongest when your elbow is bent at about 90 degrees. You're weaker when your arm is fully extended or fully contracted. This is your natural strength curve, and it's different for every exercise and muscle group.
The problem with most gym machines? They provide constant resistance. A 20kg weight is 20kg whether you're at your strongest point or your weakest. This means the weight has to be light enough for your weakest position, which means you're barely challenged through the rest of the movement.
That's inefficient. Your muscles aren't working hard enough where they're strongest, and you're limiting your progress to accommodate your weakest point.
How Nautilus Machines Are Different
Nautilus equipment uses something called a "cam": an irregularly-shaped wheel that changes the resistance as you move through an exercise. When your muscles are in their strongest position, the machine provides more resistance. When you move to a weaker position, the resistance decreases proportionally.
The result? Every repetition challenges your muscles optimally throughout the entire range of motion. You're not just getting stronger at your sticking points. You're building comprehensive strength that translates to real-world movement.
Research published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy showed that athletes using variable resistance equipment experienced larger strength and muscle gains compared to traditional weight training. A 2013 follow-up study confirmed that variable resistance training improved muscular endurance more effectively than constant resistance training.
How Hammer Strength Machines are different
Hammer Strength uses plate-loaded leverage technology instead of cams. You load Olympic plates directly onto lever arms designed with strategic pivot points that create resistance curves matching your natural strength.
The key difference? Independent movement arms. Your left and right sides work separately, so your stronger side can't compensate for weakness. This builds balanced strength and prevents imbalances that lead to injury. Unlike fixed-rail machines, Hammer Strength allows natural movement paths that respect your individual biomechanics while still providing machine-based safety and guidance.
What This Actually Means For Your Training
At Training Day, we're serious about training, but we never take ourselves too seriously. So let's cut through the jargon and talk about what variable resistance actually does for you:
You'll See Results Faster
Because your muscles are challenged optimally throughout every rep, you don't need to do endless sets to see progress. Most members achieve excellent results with 3-4 sessions per week of 45-60 minutes. Quality over quantity.
You'll Stay Injury-Free
When resistance naturally decreases at your weakest positions, there's less stress on your joints and connective tissues. You're less likely to compensate with jerky movements or poor form that lead to injury. This is especially important for members returning from injuries or those new to strength training.
You'll Build Balanced Strength
Traditional equipment can create imbalances because you're forced to accommodate your weakest points. Variable resistance ensures comprehensive muscle development through the full range of motion. This builds the kind of functional strength that makes everyday activities easier (like actually being able to pick up your kids without throwing out your back).
You Can Train Safely to Failure
Want to push your muscles to their absolute limit? Variable resistance lets you do this safely without the dangerous compensatory movements that often happen when trying to grind out that last rep with free weights. No spotter required.
How Our Trainers Use Nautilus and Hammer Strength equipment
Our Sports Science graduates and qualified trainers don't just point you to a machine and walk away. They understand the biomechanical principles that make Nautilus equipment effective, and they use this knowledge to design programs tailored to your individual goals.
Every new member gets a complimentary trainer consultation where we'll:
Assess your current fitness level and any injury history
Properly adjust Nautilus and hammer strength equipment to match your specific anatomy
Demonstrate correct form and movement patterns
Integrate variable resistance training with free weights and other equipment
Create a progressive program that builds strength intelligently
Strong By Choice isn't just our motto. It's our training philosophy. We reject ego-driven lifting that prioritises heavy weight with compromised form. Instead, we focus on quality contractions, sustainable progress, and movement mastery.
Nautilus equipment makes this philosophy easy to follow. The machines naturally encourage proper form, removing the temptation to compensate with poor technique just to lift heavier loads.
Why Proper Equipment Matters (Especially at 2 am)
One of the biggest advantages of Training Day is our true 24/7 access. Whether you're a shift worker, early riser, or night owl, you can train when it suits your life.
But here's the thing about training at unconventional hours: there might not be anyone around to spot you or check your form. This is where properly designed equipment becomes critical.
Nautilus and hammer strength equipment are inherently safer for solo training. The cam system means:
You can train to failure without needing a spotter
Poor form is harder to achieve (the machine guides proper movement)
Risk of injury from dropped weights or failed reps is minimised
You can focus on the working muscle without worrying about stabilisation
Combine this with our extensive safety features (spotter arms on all bench presses, monitored CCTV, emergency contact systems), and you have a 24-hour training environment that's both effective and secure.
More Than Just Machines: The Complete Training Day Experience
At Training Day, Nautilus and hammer strength equipment are one part of a comprehensive training environment designed to help you reach your goals. Our Clayton, Burwood, and Scoresby locations also feature:
Elite Strength Equipment: Rogue cages, calibrated plates, specialty barbells, competition-spec benches. Everything serious lifters need.
Recovery Facilities: Private infrared sauna rooms at all locations to accelerate recovery and reduce muscle soreness post-workout. Because what you do after training matters just as much as the workout itself.
Group Fitness Classes: Over 20 complimentary classes weekly, including HIIT, boxing, yoga, and strength circuits. All internally programmed by our qualified trainers (and yes, you'll probably hate our HIIT classes in the moment, but you'll be back next week).
Olympic Lifting & Powerlifting Platforms: Dedicated spaces with proper flooring, Eleiko bars, and bumper plates for technical lifting.
Bodybuilding Zones: Pin-loaded and plate-loaded machines for accessory work and hypertrophy training.
24/7 Access: Train on your schedule with secure key-card entry and monitored facilities.
This isn't a cookie-cutter commercial gym with generic programming. Every element—from equipment selection to class design—is driven by evidence-based training principles and delivered by qualified professionals who understand both the science and the practice.
Experience the Difference: Start Your Free Trial
Understanding why we chose Nautilus equipment is one thing. Feeling how it transforms your training is another entirely.
We're so confident you'll notice the difference that we offer every prospective member a 7-day free trial. No strings attached, no credit card required.
Visit any of our Clayton, Burwood, or Scoresby locations and you'll discover:
How properly adjusted variable resistance feel different from your first rep
Why our members consistently report faster strength gains with fewer injuries
What happens when equipment design and expert coaching work together
Why "Strong By Choice" means choosing intelligent training over ego lifting
Our qualified trainers will:
Show you the proper setup on Nautilus machines for your body
Explain how to integrate variable resistance into your current program
Answer questions about biomechanics, training frequency, and recovery
Design a preliminary program aligned with your goals
You'll leave understanding not just what to do, but why it works. And you'll feel the difference from your very first session.
Join Melbourne's Top-Rated 24-Hour Gym Community
With thousands of 5-star Google reviews across our three locations, Training Day has become Melbourne's premier destination for people who take their training seriously without taking themselves too seriously.
We're built by training fanatics, for training fanatics. For us, the gym isn't simply for health and fitness. It's part of our lives, our second home. A place where we find peace, certainty, and progress. If you know what we're talking about, we're going to get along just fine.
Ready to experience equipment that actually works with your body?
Start your 7-day free trial today and discover what happens when 50 years of biomechanical science meets passionate coaching and a supportive community.