I'm perfectly aware of that. They will reduce damage, but not by a respectable amount in any case. They are, however, a defense against them.

I never said it would be any better than tin foil.

The main thing to do vs. a Hammer is to anticpate his next moves. Basically, the same tactic 09 barbs used vs. sorcs, except a hammerdin's spell is a little more restricting, making him easier to predict.