Thread: is there any advantage of BB presses over DB presses?

yuo don't HAVE to do barbell press. I know several people that no longer barbell press due to shoulder problems that keep them from doing it. their chest development is fine.

I don't really think there is any harm in only using DBs for bench pressing.

I prefer DBs due to like you said the safety factor but also I seem to get a better ROM with them.

I do both Flat DB Press and BB press. I often don't have a spotter either. Its either risk dropping the weight on my chest or have my pregnant wife come down and spot me.

Originally Posted by Doublebase

I do both Flat DB Press and BB press. I often don't have a spotter either. Its either risk dropping the weight on my chest or have my pregnant wife come down and spot me.

LOL

if i had a home gym i'd just tip the bar and let the plates roll off when i reached failure :P

the problem i have is when i fail, i FAIL... i can never tell when it's coming... it can be a matter of putting up the weight no problem one rep and being completely exhausted the next... hence why i need a spotter or DBs to just drop...

I havent done barbell bench in about 2 years. I dont like the movement. My chest is fine in proportion to everything else.

so basically i'm ok if i stick to DBs as long as i switch up my sets and rep ranges every few weeks?

eg:

program 1

flat DB press 5x5
incline DB press 3x8

program 2

incline DB press 5x5
flat DB press 3x8

does anybody stick to these 2 movements exclusively for horizontal push? i'm just trying to figure out the best way to train my chest

everyone is different. so if you get good development off of db'd then use them. i get good development from both so i do both. do what works for you

If you have a power rack, you can do BB presses in the rack for safety. Or use the smith machine. Many people dont do BB presses as its easier to get a pec tear on this exercise.

I think any of these exercises will work, as long as you continue to progress with them. Just make sure your lifting alot heavier in a years time, whatever your doing and you will be bigger.

thanks for the input guys... i try to avoid the smith machine though... from what i've read so far it's not regarded too highly around here...

Originally Posted by P-funk

yuo don't HAVE to do barbell press. I know several people that no longer barbell press due to shoulder problems that keep them from doing it. their chest development is fine.

Word. It will take a long time for people to start believing this I'm afraid.

I haven't benched in a year either (and I don't have any injuries).

Originally Posted by Witchblade

Word. It will take a long time for people to start believing this I'm afraid.

I haven't benched in a year either (and I don't have any injuries).

you're gonna hate this question but what movements do you use to hit your chest? i'm trying to wrap my head around training movements and not body parts but sometimes i don't see a huge difference... in short, everybody wants a big chest... providing diet is in check, what exercises are essential for this?

Originally Posted by Skib

you're gonna hate this question but what movements do you use to hit your chest? i'm trying to wrap my head around training movements and not body parts but sometimes i don't see a huge difference... in short, everybody wants a big chest... providing diet is in check, what exercises are essential for this?

Any of the compound movements:

DB Flat/Incline
BB Incline
Smith Machine Flat/Incline
Hammer Strength machines
Weighted Dips

If you get stronger in any of these - your chest will grow.
Many people concentrate on incline as this can make you look more jacked.

Originally Posted by Lobo2009

Many people concentrate on incline as this can make you look more jacked.

how so?

Originally Posted by PreMier

how so?

Ive heard many people with this opinion - developing your upper chest will make your overall chest look more impressive.

Originally Posted by Lobo2009

Ive heard many people with this opinion - developing your upper chest will make your overall chest look more impressive.

Totally agree, and for that reason I always do DB inclines first on chest days. The only time that ever changed was years ago when I wanted to get good at weighted dips...so I did those first for awhile in my routine until I got stronger at them.

Originally Posted by Lobo2009

Ive heard many people with this opinion - developing your upper chest will make your overall chest look more impressive.

Originally Posted by TrojanMan60563

Totally agree, and for that reason I always do DB inclines first on chest days. The only time that ever changed was years ago when I wanted to get good at weighted dips...so I did those first for awhile in my routine until I got stronger at them.

fuck you are both retards.. you cant develop your 'upper chest'

Originally Posted by PreMier

fuck you are both retards.. you cant develop your 'upper chest'

I realize it is one muscle...are you trying to say inclines do not thicken the upper portion of your chest?

yes, your pec is 2 muscles. minor and major. they share the same insertion points, so you cant really isolate them, or contract one from another. also muscles grow as a whole, so you cant shape them.

this has been discussed in great detail, here is the best thread Incline for upper chest? lol

Originally Posted by PreMier

yes, your pec is 2 muscles. minor and major. they share the same insertion points, so you cant really isolate them, or contract one from another. also muscles grow as a whole, so you cant shape them.

this has been discussed in great detail, here is the best thread Incline for upper chest? lol

Read it, and I don't agree. I lifted as a competitive power lifter for many years never doing inclines and never having much of an "upper" peck. It wasn't until I joined the military and someone told me to do my inclines first and focus most on my upper pecks with bench and flies that I started to get an upper peck. I know first hand that inclines and certain fly exercises work the upper peck more then a flat bench. Lord knows I have done a LOT of flat benching.

I also agree some things work the peak of a bicep more the others.

Not to beat a dead horse or in this case a thread, if one exercise was all that is needed for a well rounded body then why do pro BBers bother doing so many movements? Wouldn't they just pick their favorite lift for each muscle and stick with it?

Science is great, but often the work is done by people not involved in what they study. The person writing the paper is not Ronnie Coleman, or Jay Cutler. It is some person basing their info off of theory. And that doesn't pan out. I would take advice any day of the week from someone that has done it, vs. someone that claims they have figured out the best way to do it through theory...

I think this forum runs with this concept too much without remembering the point. I can see the benefit of inclines.

BUT

It is NOT because of the angle, but the difference of the workout entirely. If you were benching for so so long, then you did incline, or shit, DECLINE and saw a difference in size or strength, its cuz you "switched it up."

First hand knowledge coming from me, I never did DB presses of any sort. I did, however, did barbell presses of all sorts, incline, decline, flat, smith, hammer strength...ooh, well not that one. After I did DB presses, I was asked if I did steroids from then on. Was it cuz DB presses are better? Eh. Or is it cuz I just switched it up?

I dont know about the science behind this, but from anecdotal evidence, Id say that focusing on incline movements definitely will focus on more size on the upper portion of the chest. Ive actually never heard anyone disagree with this before.

oh my fuck. i cant read this shit anymore. so i will state that its impossible to shape a muscle, therefore you cant make your upper, inner, outer chest grow more than any other part. it grows as a whole.

like stated though, if you do varying movements, you will see more overall growth than by doing a single movement

Originally Posted by TrojanMan60563

I also agree some things work the peak of a bicep more the others.

whatever dude, not to be rude but this makes you sound like a retard. since sergio oliva didnt have a peak, howcome he didnt shape one? because you cant! some people have one, some dont

here is sergio, no peak


and arnold with a peak



if you could build a peak, every pro would have one, not just big arms

Everyone knows Sergio never concentrated on the squeeze at the top of his iso curls...geez

PreMier I am not suggesting you can form a muscle. Your genetics will determine max size and shape of your muscles.

What I am saying is different movements can focus on a section of the muscle more then another exercise. This may just cause the stimulation needed to develop the muscle further and in return giving the look of a thicker upper peck, or peak on the bicep. Sculpting a muscle could be looked at as further developing what is already there. If you don't have the genetics to have a large peak on your bicep then maybe all the preacher curls, or concentration curls in the world will not grow you a peak like Arnold.

What it boils down to is different exercises may cause stimulation to the muscle it wasn't getting from a different movement. Why that is I cannot tell you. If you pick any muscle in your body chances are you have a favorite exercise that you feel hits that muscle the best. That doesn't mean it will do the same for me. Is it just a coincidence that when I do peck flies the tight pump feeling seems to be more localized to the inside of my peck? Or when I do inclines the same sensation is felt in the upper portion of the muscle?

I just don't see how I could get enough weight in position once you reach a high level with BB. Not to mention that DBs past the mid 100s are rare.

Originally Posted by Hoglander

I just don't see how you could get enough weight in position once you reach a high level with BB. Not to mention that DBs past the mid 100s are rare.

Originally Posted by Hoglander

I just don't see how I could get enough weight in position once you reach a high level with BB. Not to mention that DBs past the mid 100s are rare.

yea they are rare to find after 100s,But I get a better feel and size with DBs, especially when I use good form. Ill choose DB>BB benching anyday.