bench press or dumbell presses?

jack_of_all · 22-06-2005, 07:38 PM

i like bar better, it involves more muscles because the triceps play a much larger factor than in dumbell benching, other than the stabalizers which hold your arms together and prevent them from falling apart barbell benching requires all the same stabalizers, and the primary muscles that prevent your arms from drifting apart or falling across eachother are also used in a barbell bench. in the real world, a barbell bench adapts your arms better to pushing a single object in front of you, dumbell benches are better for the less likely (but possible) incidents where you might have to push 2 things. also, the increased weight that you can use in a barbell bench makes for more muscle recruitment within both the primary muscles and stabalizers of the motion. as far as RC injuries, some people do just fine and never have a big problem, some people find that rc warm up prevents injur while others are ok if they bench more like a pl'er than a bb'er with a lower bar touch down and tighlty pinched shoulderblades w/ back arch. still others just have bad cuffs.

redspy · 22-06-2005, 07:59 PM

I only do DB benches due to RC injuries. With DBs I get a much better range of motion and feel my pecs are more heavily involved. I've tried numberous techniques of BB presses (pinched shoulder blades, elbows tucked and the result is the same - pain!.

Ideally I would do both.

MrSkinny · 22-06-2005, 10:25 PM

I just started Dumbell presses this week as it was about time I changed my chest routine. As expected I was doing a less weight (total) compared to my bar routine and less reps at that weight. How do you guys compare in weight for dumbell to your bar

Cheers
John

22-06-2005, 10:42 PM

ops: never touched a barbell (I'm going to get slated for this aren't I?)
Will give it a go on Monday morning and see what difference is.

MrSkinny · 22-06-2005, 10:53 PM

i tried the dumbells yesterday but a) its hard to lift 35-40kg dumbells into place and b) hard to push it to failure as I thought I was gonna drop em on my mush, lol

I stick with and see how I go.

zx9rjas. · 23-06-2005, 12:29 AM

Wait til you get to 65Kg+ dumbells, then its difficult even for a spotter. Dumbells always seem to add more mass with me than barbells but barbells really help with strength development

J

BigDaddy · 23-06-2005, 09:31 AM

I do both but i prefer DB

MrSkinny · 23-06-2005, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zx9rjas.

65Kg+ dumbells,
J

:shock: :shock: :shock:

Didn't even know they made them that heavy, lol

zx9rjas. · 23-06-2005, 12:05 PM

No, In my gym the dumbells go up to 50ish Kg. But I bought some spinlock bars ages ago and took them to my gym. I made up my own dumbells with them with 6 x 22-25lb on each bar (thats when I was at my strongest though)

c130 · 23-06-2005, 02:36 PM

havnt done bench for 3 month, just been doing incline dumbells and weighted dips for chest

went back to bench today and done 130kg for 6 reps where as before i could only manage 120kg for 6 reps

was fairly happy with that

View Poll Results: which do you prefer
bench press is better	10	35.71%
dumbell presses is better.	18	64.29%
Voters: 28. You may not vote on this poll

22-06-2005, 07:59 PM	#22 (permalink)
redspy Making Progress Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Way Out West Posts: 578 Rep Power:	I only do DB benches due to RC injuries. With DBs I get a much better range of motion and feel my pecs are more heavily involved. I've tried numberous techniques of BB presses (pinched shoulder blades, elbows tucked and the result is the same - pain!. Ideally I would do both. ______________________ IronArena.com

23-06-2005, 12:29 AM	#26 (permalink)
zx9rjas. Legend Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 696 Rep Power:	Wait til you get to 65Kg+ dumbells, then its difficult even for a spotter. Dumbells always seem to add more mass with me than barbells but barbells really help with strength development J ______________________ 50% of Training is nutrition 50% of Training is not overtraining If you cant gain see the above.

23-06-2005, 09:31 AM	#27 (permalink)
BigDaddy Making Progress Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Derry/N.Ireland Posts: 159 Rep Power:	I do both but i prefer DB ______________________ I see my body as an instrument, rather than an ornament. Mod @ www.hardcoremuscle.co.uk Mod @ www.hardgainer.co.uk email - bigdaddy@hardcoremuscle.co.uk

23-06-2005, 12:05 PM	#29 (permalink)
zx9rjas. Legend Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 696 Rep Power:	No, In my gym the dumbells go up to 50ish Kg. But I bought some spinlock bars ages ago and took them to my gym. I made up my own dumbells with them with 6 x 22-25lb on each bar (thats when I was at my strongest though) ______________________ 50% of Training is nutrition 50% of Training is not overtraining If you cant gain see the above.

22-06-2005, 07:38 PM	#21 (permalink)
jack_of_all Under Construction Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 7 Rep Power:	i like bar better, it involves more muscles because the triceps play a much larger factor than in dumbell benching, other than the stabalizers which hold your arms together and prevent them from falling apart barbell benching requires all the same stabalizers, and the primary muscles that prevent your arms from drifting apart or falling across eachother are also used in a barbell bench. in the real world, a barbell bench adapts your arms better to pushing a single object in front of you, dumbell benches are better for the less likely (but possible) incidents where you might have to push 2 things. also, the increased weight that you can use in a barbell bench makes for more muscle recruitment within both the primary muscles and stabalizers of the motion. as far as RC injuries, some people do just fine and never have a big problem, some people find that rc warm up prevents injur while others are ok if they bench more like a pl'er than a bb'er with a lower bar touch down and tighlty pinched shoulderblades w/ back arch. still others just have bad cuffs.

22-06-2005, 10:25 PM	#23 (permalink)
MrSkinny Making Progress Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London Posts: 255 Rep Power:	I just started Dumbell presses this week as it was about time I changed my chest routine. As expected I was doing a less weight (total) compared to my bar routine and less reps at that weight. How do you guys compare in weight for dumbell to your bar Cheers John

22-06-2005, 10:42 PM	#24 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	ops: never touched a barbell (I'm going to get slated for this aren't I?) Will give it a go on Monday morning and see what difference is.

22-06-2005, 10:53 PM	#25 (permalink)
MrSkinny Making Progress Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: London Posts: 255 Rep Power:	i tried the dumbells yesterday but a) its hard to lift 35-40kg dumbells into place and b) hard to push it to failure as I thought I was gonna drop em on my mush, lol I stick with and see how I go.

23-06-2005, 02:36 PM	#30 (permalink)
c130 Under Construction Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cyprus Posts: 80 Rep Power:	havnt done bench for 3 month, just been doing incline dumbells and weighted dips for chest went back to bench today and done 130kg for 6 reps where as before i could only manage 120kg for 6 reps was fairly happy with that

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