Thread: What's better for compound movements, the barbell or dumbells or both?

You need to use both, and keep it fresh man.

use both, it is always good to mix up your routine. Using dumbells will help work some more of your stablizing muscles. With my routine, i like to have one week where i will only do barbells, then the next do dumbells, variety is the key. Funny thing is i have a lot more strength for my dumbells then i do for barbells relative to everyone else i see in the gym

dumbells can also deliver a greater range of motion than can the barbells

aztecwolf

use both, it is always good to mix up your routine. Using dumbells will help work some more of your stablizing muscles. With my routine, i like to have one week where i will only do barbells, then the next do dumbells

I totally agree with you about dumbells working more of your stablizing muscles. For shoulders I use both, & for chest I change it up, same for arms.

dumbells can also deliver a greater range of motion than can the barbells

I agree with you on that as well. I just find dumbell exercises so much easier than bar exercises. The only thing I hate especially for chest & shoulders is just getting the dumbells up to the pressing motion & balancing them on your legs & throwing them up, but once they're up there it's easy.

I'm a barbell freak. Greater range of motion is not always a good thing (shoulder risk).

Mudge

I'm a barbell freak. Greater range of motion is not always a good thing (shoulder risk).

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I also agree with that as sometimes when I do say 120lbs or 125lbs for incline dumbell press, even 100lbs sometimes, my shoulders hurt at times. I'm doing the motion properly, but I say to myself, is my shoulder supposed to hurt?

Originally posted by Johnnny
I find using dumbbells are much easier than using the bar.

This statement here means that you should be using the bar more IMO. You should be taking the hard route, it will show you better results.

That's why I usually do barbell exercises instead of dumbbells.

I actually prefer barbell exercises for growth in size/strength. I find they give more mass/power.

But I like to do dumbells every once in awhile.

But for side raises & rear delt flies, you have to use dumbbells.

I prefer using dumbells for flat bench, but I will use barbell every now and then. Although I do use barbell most of the time for incline bench. For the most part though, it depends on the excercise and what area you are wanting to work on. Then you decide from that on what to use (dumbell or barbell).

I like to switch it up. However, when I am training with lower repitions, 6 or less, I usually prefer to use barbells because it helps me mentally. I can focus my strength better when I am holding one solid bar. Don't ask my why, but it just works that way for me.

I love the barbell. I use DBs occasionally to switch things up. As was pointed out, usually if you use strictly DBs, then go back to barbell, you'll find you've lost a fair amount of strength. But if you do BB exclusively then switch to DBs, you'll find you are still plenty strong. At least it works that way for me.

JerseyDevil that's exactly what I said, I find if I leave a barbell exercise & do DB's for more than 3 or 4 weeks, I will have lost strength for the barbell exercise.

Dumbbell's are good to switch things up or do both, but not for extended periods of time.

But for certain things as I said rear delts, side raises, concentration curls, & flies dumbbells are unavoidable.

Originally posted by Mudge
I'm a barbell freak. Greater range of motion is not always a good thing (shoulder risk).

ditto...

LAM I agree as well.

Even with the barbell I used to use a pad to avoid about 1.5 inches of travel on incline work, but at that time I was doing 7 friggin sets of incline work which in itself probably was not great for my shoulders either. I used to really like dumbell inclines but for whatever series of reasons I just prefer barbell work, in part its the mentality of using more weight. I have read of even a couple powerlifters who insist on switchups, I am happy with primarily barbells.

I have been using dumbells fairly often for bicep work and often triceps as well though, I seem to notice a small difference in size when using the barbell for biceps (better) but nothing major. What I need to do is track down their ez bar that will hold olympic plates, the preloaded weights bars are too light and using standard diameter bars which dig into my hands too much.

Even if using dumbells though you dont have to go all the way, I know some people insist on it but if you watch Ronnie it doesn't seem to have hurt him by not going all the way. Of course he is juiced up and all but I think if you go most of the way, and are persistent, then you are fine.

We really need to define "compound" when talking about lifts. I'm going to create another thread that defines what a compound lift really is vs. what many people perceive it to be. That should put an end to wondering what's better.

Saturday Fever when I mean compound movements I mean: flat bench, incline bench, barbell curls, close-grip bench press, Military Press in the front, squats, deadlifts, barbell rows, wide grip chin ups.

I think that covers almost all of them.

Mudge, I know what you mean about barbell exercises. Sometimes it just feels better & more results.

Originally posted by Mudge
I'm a barbell freak. Greater range of motion is not always a good thing (shoulder risk).

I agree. Movements like heavy flys get pretty stressfull on the shoulders.