To hammer ring shank nails you simply use the ring shank nails as you would regular nails although you may need to use a bit more force on the hammer to get them to go in.
Sometimes you might want to use a pair of pliers to hold the ring shank nail so you can hit it harder to get it started and sometimes the ring shank nails go in just as easily as regular nails.
You should use ring shank nails for roof sheathing as the ring shank nails can secure the roof sheathing better than regular nails and help prevent the roof sheathing from flying off during high winds or a hurricane etc.
When installing a subfloor the best nails you should use are ring shank nails which hold the subfloor down much better than regular nails.
The subfloor when installed with ring shank nails will be tighter and not lift like they would or could with regular shank nails.
Smooth shank nails can be used for subfloors although ring shank nails are better at preventing the subfloor from coming up in the future.
However if you want to use smooth shank nails for the subfloor they will work just fine.
I've used smooth shank nails on subfloors and never had any issues with them.
The shank of a nail is the long part of the nail with the pointy end on it.
The head of the nail is the part that is on top of the shank of the nail that you hit with a hammer.
There's also ring shank nails that prevent them from being pulled out as easy as other nails such as during high winds, hurricanes etc.
Ring shank nails are great for surfaces exposed to high winds that might pull out a common nail.
They're ideally suited for softer woods that might otherwise split when nailed.
Applications: Siding, Roof Decking, Asphalt Shingles, Underlayment, Subfloors.
The 3 different types of nail shank's are.
Smooth Shank Nails. There are no deformations on the shank, making nails with a smooth shank the easiest to drive.
Spiral Shank Nails. A spiral "thread" on the shank causes the nail to spin during installation, creating a thread-like interlock with the wood, which increases withdrawal capacity.
Annular Ring Shank Nails.
The downside of a smooth shank nail is its loss of withdrawal strength when applied in wood that is continuously expanding and contracting due to moisture.
Ring and screw shanks have a stronger holding power than smooth shanks. In general, ring shanks have the strongest holding power.
Smooth shank nails are the most common and are often used for framing and general construction applications.
They offer enough holding power for most everyday use.
Ring shank nails are those with ridges or spirals around the shank; those little ridges can increase the holding power of the nail by 40 percent or more.
The ridges on the ring shank nails act as little barbs or wedges that lock the nails firmly into the wood once it's driven.