If you've decided to incorporate a kettlebell into your fitness routine there's one thing you may want to watch out for, and that's the shape of the handle. In reviews of workout DVD's that come with a kettlebell, one of the most common complaints is that the handle scratches the user's knuckles as the bell is flipped back and forth.

I disregarded these comments for The Firm's kettlebell workout because I assumed that the hands of those who complained about the bell's hurting the knuckles were larger than mine. I ordered The Firm''s kettlebell workout DVD (featuring instructor, Kelsey Daniels, who offers a perfectly fine workout) and the 5-lb. kettlebell. Just as all those reviewers have said online, this particular kettlebell does hurt the knuckles of the user (even those users with small hands).

Not having used other kettlebells I assumed that the weight, combined with the way the bell is used, may make the problem of hurting knuckles "just a part of this kind of workout". I assumed, too, that reviewers who have complained of this problem may be like me (in that they may not be accustomed to using a kettlebell).

In the case of The Firm's 5-lb. kettlebell it is possible for me to avoid some of the knuckle-scraping by being particularly careful with how I move the bell, although other users reviewing this particular bell have said they haven't been able to avoid the knuckle-scraping. This, I suppose, could be where hand size comes in.

After having The Firm's kettlebell workout for a while I decided to order the whole Kettlenetics program (created by, and featuring, Michelle Khai) on DVD. The Kettlenetics set comes with a 4-lb. kettlebell (which, after using the 5-lb bell feel lighter than air). Kettlenetics also offers the additional purchase of more advanced DVD's that come with an 8-lb. kettle bell. I ordered that heavier bell with the program. The powder blue color won me over (I'm embarrassed to admit), but I mostly ordered the heavier bell because I'd been using the 5-lb. one and thought it would soon be time to add some challenge.

When the Kettlenetics program arrived I was amazed to discover that neither the 4-lb. nor the 8-lb. bell scraped my knuckles. In spite of the more intimidating weight of the larger bell, it was almost (almost) a "piece of cake" to use it, simply because of the design of the handle. Upon up-close comparison of all the kettlebells it became clear that the handle on The Firm''s 5-lb. bell has an almost straight-across, but slightly "dipped in", design that narrows the space for the hand. As a result, even the small-handed user cannot completely eliminate the uncomfortable scraping; and based on user reviews, apparently some cannot eliminate it at all.

The more rounded shape of the Kettlenetics kettlebell or others available makes a world of difference between a bell that's fun to use (even an 8-lb. one) and one that makes working out a little more uncomfortable than it needs to be.

The Kettlenetics bell is said to have been designed to provide just the right amount of resistance, without too much weight, to new users. With my own first experience with a kettlebell including the 5-lb.. bell, I haven't particularly found the additional pound (of The Firm's bell) much different from the 4-lb bell . Based on both The Firm's and Kettlenetics' workouts for beginners, it would appear that for women first beginning to workout with a kettlebell, a 4- or 5- lb. bell would be a good weight with which to start.

Regardless of which company manufacturers/offers a kettlebell, I would strongly advise scrutinizing the design of the handle and looking for one with a more arched design, rather than a straight-across or slightly-dipped in design.