Barbell or dumbbell

[nikegurl]

Originally posted by gopro

-the fact that with dumbells you can slightly alter hand/wrist position, and/or plane of movement to make an exercise more comfortable and effective

This is a big factor for me with DBs. I can find the right "groove" easier and make adjustments in a way that's easier then bb or machines for most exercises.

I like to mix it up between BB DB and machine but this is a big reason I personally like DBs best for most upper body exercises.

 

[TJohn]

Use both !! You need the benefits of both. DB's give you a better range of motion and BB's let you pure on the power.

TJohn

 

[gopro]

Originally posted by Xeldrine
I like to train heavy so if they make a 300 lb. dumbell than I'll switch until then f**k it!

And for which exercise will you be using a 300 lb dumbell???

 

[Mule]

Hell they would have to have a seperate rack for that dumbell.

 

[J.T. HALL]

D vs B

Dumbells offer greater range of motion, but barbells offer use of heavier weights.

TRAIN HARD

J.T. HALL
news

 

[Xeldrine]

Re: D vs B

Originally posted by J.T. HALL
barbells offer use of heavier weights.


Main I rather use barbells..

 

[Pressalot]

I know I'm a little late to this, but I thought you would find this link interesting. You could see a video of Paul Anderson pressing a 300 lb dumbell twice. http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/211_fall2002.web.dir/Peter_Broady/Pages/Strongestman.htm

(I don't lift weights, but I'm pretty)

 

[Mudge]

Right now I live with the barbell, for almost everything.

 

[Pressalot]

As I said, I don't lift weights, but I used to a bit, and I think someone whos doing it just to keep in shape should stick with dumbells. As people said, the stabilizer muscles get worked, and I figure that the more muscles you work per set, the more exaustion with be the reason for stopping rather than muscle fatigue, which is better cardiovascularly and probably reduces the chances of injury (just my theory). It's also safer, especially if you do bench presses.

 

[leg_press]

I used to use a barbell when I trained at a gym ( before I moved to a college sports complex), and it seemed to add mass to my arms because I could do 21's which you can't really do with a dumbell or with the bicep machine.

 

[maniclion]

I'm sorry, but you should never have to choose between one or the other. They are both vital for optimal growth, just like food and water.

 

[firestorm]

I incorporate both in my routines. If I do DB flat benches and incline barbell this week the following week I may do barbell flats and incline DBs. I think for a well rounded physic both are required

 

[Tha Don]

Originally posted by leg_press
I used to use a barbell when I trained at a gym ( before I moved to a college sports complex), and it seemed to add mass to my arms because I could do 21's which you can't really do with a dumbell or with the bicep machine.

yeah you can

do you mean you can't do 21's with a barbell?

db's are a lot more versitle than bb's, you can do pretty much everything with them and a bench (apart from pulldowns for which you need a L.P.)

barbells, dumbells and cables all have their place and are all important in my book

peace

 

[leg_press]

No I said that I couldn't do 21 with a DUMBELL

 

[prophet]

i switch about every 3 months between db and bb.. so what i do with db switches to bb and what i do with bb switches to db.. flat and incline bench, shrugs, shoulder press

 

[Tha Don]

Originally posted by leg_press
No I said that I couldn't do 21 with a DUMBELL

well personally i think 21's are better with dumbells

you can do them on 1 arm at a time, and really focus on that muscle (either left or right bicep) rather than having to focus on both at once

you can also use your free arm to help support and lock the elbow of the arm you are working in a fixed position just above your hip

try that, it might help you a bit

peace

 

[vanity]

The more variety you incorporate into your routine the greater your gains will be. You seriously limit your potential if you use only one type of bar. Vary the bars, cable handles , machines and exercises to constatly keep your body guessing and adapting.

The greatest advantage that dumbells have over barbells is that they allow you to work on a single side of your body at one time.
This is important because it highlights where you may have a muscle imbalance. More importantly it allows you to correct the imbalance. Muscle imbalances are often the cause of injuries.

Examples of imbalances are when you could do more reps of db chest or shoulder presses with one arm than you can with the other. If when you do the BB bench press or BB military press for instance, and the bar seems to tilt to one side, then that is your weaker side.

Imbalances are very common and it's important to correct them as soon as possible.

 

[Tha Don]

Originally posted by vanity
The more variety you incorporate into your routine the greater your gains will be. You seriously limit your potential if you use only one type of bar. Vary the bars, cable handles , machines and exercises to constatly keep your body guessing and adapting.

The greatest advantage that dumbells have over barbells is that they allow you to work on a single side of your body at one time.
This is important because it highlights where you may have a muscle imbalance. More importantly it allows you to correct the imbalance. Muscle imbalances are often the cause of injuries.

Examples of imbalances are when you could do more reps of db chest or shoulder presses with one arm than you can with the other. If when you do the BB bench press or BB military press for instance, and the bar seems to tilt to one side, then that is your weaker side.

Imbalances are very common and it's important to correct them as soon as possible.

thats a good point!

and another reason why 21's are better with d/b's

 

[Randy]

I incorporate both into my workout. The main difference in using dumbell vs barbell is this. Dumbell allows you to get a more concentrated focus on your main bicep. Barbells allow you to utilize the full range grip. You can use a wider grip to build the other portions of your bicep muscle. For instance using medium grip verses wide grip builds a different portion. There are main, inner, and outer bicep muscles. Using both dumbells and barbells allows one to work the full range of your bicep muscles.

I use dumbells and single cable curls to get a more concentrated workout on my bicep. But in addition to that I also include barbell curls. For the barbells, I do inner, medium, and outer grip to work all parts of the bicep. The Dumbells tend to focus on the main peak portion of the bicep. Now this is just my experience.
In addition, I rotate my routine every 6 weeks. I create an entirely new program. I feel this is a very important factor in body building.



As for cuts, you get them by a number of factors. Hi reps, lean diet and cardio will definately bring out the cuts. In my opion, those are the 3 keys.

 

[JerseyDevil]

To get big, you have to lift big. Barbells allow you to use more weight, so are better for building mass. I sort of agree with the guy who said that DBs are better for cutting, combined with diet of course. I focus mainly on compound barbell movements, then use DBs for 'finishing off'. For chest 3-4 sets BB flat bench, 3 sets BB incline, then 3 sets DB incline cover the bases, for me at least.

 

[Pressalot]

Another theory from a guy who doesn't even work out...if you have muscle imbalance, a barbell is probably better than dumbells, if you make sure you keep the bar straight. With dumbells, it's harder to tell if you're using the the same arm movement for each arm.

I wonder if you could get the same benefit from dumbells as you do with alternating between wide and narrow grips with barbells if you use a variety of arm motions with the dumbells, such as keeping the dumbells farther from your body for some sets.

 

[vanity]

Pressalot:

I find your remark ,"Another theory from a guy who doesn't even work out" , mildly amusing.

I'm guessing you recently celebrated your 14th birthday.
happy birthday.

 

[Pressalot]

Actually, I began working out at about 14. Sad to hear that only 14 year olds theorize.

Hmmm.... incase you misunderstood, I'm the one who doesn't work out, as I said in a previous post to this thread.

 

[Randy]

Pressalot,

It could be possible to get the same results using dumbells like you describe. I just think it is easier to use a barbell for this purpose. But heck, there is somebody stumbling across a new excercise method every day. I am always open to anthing that works. Keeping an open and scientific mind is always a good thing.

Originally posted by Pressalot
I wonder if you could get the same benefit from dumbells as you do with alternating between wide and narrow grips with barbells if you use a variety of arm motions with the dumbells, such as keeping the dumbells farther from your body for some sets.

 

[Tha Don]

Originally posted by Pressalot
Another theory from a guy who doesn't even work out...if you have muscle imbalance, a barbell is probably better than dumbells, if you make sure you keep the bar straight. With dumbells, it's harder to tell if you're using the the same arm movement for each arm.

this is not true man

if you push a bar with both, you are using strength from both sides of the body

if your right side is much stronger than your left side, your right side will take over a lot of the push/pull itself, meaning the left side is not been worked at all!

you think both muscles will work out the same, but if one side struggles and the other side is stronger it will take over, and you will get imbalances

With dumbells your working just that side of your body! If you have good technique on both sides and are lifting the same on both sides muscle imbalances can and will not occur!

Peace

 

[vanity]

YoungD:

cool, you get it man.
That's exactly what I'm talking about.

 

[Randy]

I would have to agree with young there.

In addition, if you do have an imbalance you can componsate for that using dumbells. If your weaker on your left arm, you just do a few more reps on the left than the right, or visa versa. Eventually you will overcome the indifference, and achieve an equal balance. This is a common issue with many. Like if your right handed, your right hand is usually stronger. It's just a way of human nature I guess.

Originally posted by young d
this is not true man

if you push a bar with both, you are using strength from both sides of the body

if your right side is much stronger than your left side, your right side will take over a lot of the push/pull itself, meaning the left side is not been worked at all!

you think both muscles will work out the same, but if one side struggles and the other side is stronger it will take over, and you will get imbalances

With dumbells your working just that side of your body! If you have good technique on both sides and are lifting the same on both sides muscle imbalances can and will not occur!

Peace

 

[maniclion]

If your weaker on your left arm, you just do a few more reps on the left than the right, or visa versa.

Not exactly, if you are working to failure, do as many reps as possible with the weaker arm first then do the same number with the stronger arm. Continue doing that until you feel both arms are equal.

 

[Randy]

I didn't notice anyone reference that they were working to failure, maybe I missed it. But I would disagree with you on that. If I personally had a weaker arm and was working to failure. I would do exactly as you said, but I would wait about 15 to 30 seconds afterward and do a few more reps with the weaker arm. I would then proceed to the other arm and work to failure as normal. Whether your working to failure or not, if your doing the exact same reps on each arm, how is the weaker arm going to get any stonger and become equal with the stronger arm?

That's just my opinion. Maybe I'm missing some scientific theory here .

Originally posted by maniclion
Not exactly, if you are working to failure, do as many reps as possible with the weaker arm first then do the same number with the stronger arm. Continue doing that until you feel both arms are equal.

 

[Monolith]

Originally posted by Randy
I didn't notice anyone reference that they were working to failure, maybe I missed it. But I would disagree with you on that. If I personally had a weaker arm and was working to failure. I would do exactly as you said, but I would wait about 15 to 30 seconds afterward and do a few more reps with the weaker arm. I would then proceed to the other arm and work to failure as normal. Whether your working to failure or not, if your doing the exact same reps on each arm, how is the weaker arm going to get any stonger and become equal with the stronger arm?

That's just my opinion. Maybe I'm missing some scientific theory here .

If your normal "failure" workout means its that easy to "do a few more reps with the weaker arm", then youve got some inherently flawed techniques to begin with imo.

And if youre doing the same number of reps on each arm using the proper intensity, your strength will even out. Doing 10 reps on the right arm with 50lbs may only take half as much intensity as 10 reps with 50lbs on the left arm. Youre still working the left arm harder to do the same work as the right arm.

It worked for me, anyway.