I'm not a professional builder, but I have put in a lot of hours on home improvements on my house, including a few week-long sessions working with a crew doing an addition on my house. So while I may not have as much experience as a pro, I have pounded more than enough nails to get a good idea of what I like, and I really like this hammer. While a professional framer might use a heavier hammer, like something in the 22 ounce range, this one is just perfect for me. It's well balanced, drives straight, very comfortable to hold, and as far as I can tell, indestructible. Everyone who picked it up liked it- including one of the framing crew we had to chase down to get it back- but that's another story.