Is there such a thing as a "professional grade" hammer?

[dreamspeed]

My advice is to go to Home Depot/Lowes/Sears and check out their hammers in person. My experience is that Home Depot usually has the biggest selection (unless you specifically want craftsman hammers).

You can read reviews all day and stare at pictures on the internet but you really need to pick up a hammer with your own hands and give it a few swings to form your own opinion. Each hammer is balanced differently with a different shaped handle.

You might think a particular hammer is perfect from your research but it could feel completely horrible the moment you pick it up

 

[59 wagon man]

im a plumber and love my estwing hammer .mine is a framing hammer long handle with the heavy head it doesnt fit into a tiny space but gives plenty of impact when trying to bust a cast iron hub or breaking down a wall. expensive at first but mine is at least 20 yrs old