Dumbell vs Barbell bench press

[maxpro2]

sounds like you need to date 'smaller' women...

...sorry...couldn't resist that one...

haha

 

[gopro]

I prefer dumbbells for this movement, but have also used the barbell extensively. If I had the choice for only one though, most definitely it would be dumbbells. Interestingly enough, my personal preference switches to barbell when we are talking about incline pressing.

 

[mrmark]

I prefer dumbbells for this movement, but have also used the barbell extensively. If I had the choice for only one though, most definitely it would be dumbbells. Interestingly enough, my personal preference switches to barbell when we are talking about incline pressing.

I do that as well. Start with a flat dumbbell press followed by an inclined barbell press.

Works very nicely in my opinion.

 

[Pedigree]

For complete upper body mass building, barbell bench. For hitting mostly the chest, I prefer dumbbells.
I do both.

 

[carter26]

I would have to think you get deeper reps with dumbells, but Barbells can get more weight across the chest. In my day, I could bench 315, no way would i try to do 160lb dumbells. Now adays, i use the Hammer Strength Iso-Lateral Bench. No spoter. plus the range of motion is restricted...no struggling with weight.

 

[tweeter]

Is there a conversion that tells you how much you bench if you can do a certain amount in dumbells. I end my dumbbell workout with the 80's doing about 6 reps. Is there anyway I can tell from that how much I bench with a barbell.

 

[CowPimp]

Is there a conversion that tells you how much you bench if you can do a certain amount in dumbells. I end my dumbbell workout with the 80's doing about 6 reps. Is there anyway I can tell from that how much I bench with a barbell.

Start with the bar. Push out a few reps. Add 20 pounds. Push out a few reps. Repeat until it gets difficult enough that you will fail somewhere around 6 repetitions. There is no way to tell really.

 

[leg_press]

I do both flat dumbell and barbell, dont have the balls to do dumbell incline yet. I think dumbells are good cus the isolate each side of the chest. But I too can rack alot more onto a barbell kg for kg.

 

[Squaggleboggin]

DB benches rule. That is all.

 

[zapedy]

squaggle can u db bench more than u can bb bench? coz i only use db's for benching and i cant seem to pack more weight onto the bb wen i do try it like you should be able to. So basicaly im asking should you always be able to bench more wiv the bb even if u only use db's in ur normal routine?

 

[swordfish]

flat barbell bench press, hands down. the barbell is still the single most valuable tool in a weight training program. with a barbell you can use more weight and imo get bigger for that reason alone. just think about it though, you can use a barbell for back squats, front squats, barbell rows, clean and presses, barbell curls, close grip bench ( floor press if you dont have a bench), stiff legged deads, deadlifts- conventional and sumo, high pulls, upright rows, power shrugs, lunges, step ups, military press, and many more exercises.

 

[Squaggleboggin]

You can use a DB for all those exercises as well.

I hate the argument that because you can use more weight, a BB is superior. Using that logic, the leg press is far superior to the free weight squat because you can use more weight for the leg press. Think about it...

 

[swordfish]

except the fact that a leg press is a machine.

if you had one person perform the exercises that i listed with dumbells, and assuming that diet is the same, their weight is the same, and everything else is equal, and another person using a barbell for each of the exercises, then the person with the barbell would be significantly bigger, hands down.....

 

[largepkg]

except the fact that a leg press is a machine.

if you had one person perform the exercises that i listed with dumbells, and assuming that diet is the same, their weight is the same, and everything else is equal, and another person using a barbell for each of the exercises, then the person with the barbell would be significantly bigger, hands down.....

 

[Burner02]

I do both flat dumbell and barbell, dont have the balls to do dumbell incline yet. I think dumbells are good cus the isolate each side of the chest. But I too can rack alot more onto a barbell kg for kg.

Hey...just 'grip 'em and rip 'em'...
inc. DB Press is my favorite exercise...what is the 'fear' that u don't have the 'balls' to do them?

 

[CowPimp]

except the fact that a leg press is a machine.

if you had one person perform the exercises that i listed with dumbells, and assuming that diet is the same, their weight is the same, and everything else is equal, and another person using a barbell for each of the exercises, then the person with the barbell would be significantly bigger, hands down.....

It may possibly be true, none of us can say for sure. Without analyzing it closely I can see how you would say it's true because less force is dissipated from the prime movers to the ancillary musculature involved in the lift. Of course, the same is true about machines. The less stabilization involved, the more tension can be placed on the prime movers, and the greater the hypertrophic response.

This, however, doesn't take into account that fact that the nervous system is less excited in situations where afferent/input neurons receive less stimulation. As we all know, the nervous system certainly plays an important role. Not to mention, the hormonal response might differ in cases where a larger amount of muscle mass is stimulated with the same exercise.

My point is that we can debate this all day, but admit it, you're kind of talking out of your ass...

 

[swordfish]

yea i am, but it makes sense to me for some reason.

 

[largepkg]

My point is that we can debate this all day, but admit it, you're kind of talking out of your ass...

 

[gopro]

It may possibly be true, none of us can say for sure. Without analyzing it closely I can see how you would say it's true because less force is dissipated from the prime movers to the ancillary musculature involved in the lift. Of course, the same is true about machines. The less stabilization involved, the more tension can be placed on the prime movers, and the greater the hypertrophic response.

This, however, doesn't take into account that fact that the nervous system is less excited in situations where afferent/input neurons receive less stimulation. As we all know, the nervous system certainly plays an important role. Not to mention, the hormonal response might differ in cases where a larger amount of muscle mass is stimulated with the same exercise.

My point is that we can debate this all day, but admit it, you're kind of talking out of your ass...

Wow CP, I can't believe you chose to give such a detailed response here. You are a better man than me because I would have just said, "Your statement is right up there with the assertion that high reps build definition," and moved on, LOL.

 

[CowPimp]

Wow CP, I can't believe you chose to give such a detailed response here. You are a better man than me because I would have just said, "Your statement is right up there with the assertion that high reps build definition," and moved on, LOL.

Haha, what can I say, I like talking about this stuff.

 

[swordfish]

i figured id get guys jumping all over me for that comment......

but even after all that-
BB BENCH >DB BENCH

 

[gopro]

i figured id get guys jumping all over me for that comment......

but even after all that-
BB BENCH >DB BENCH

Hey bro, if you want to believe that, that is up to you my friend.

 

[swordfish]

my weight training coach told me that bars are the way to go for mass. hes 270 lbs and 5'10, benched 455x1 raw, squatted 585x6 parallel raw, and deadlifted 605 raw at the age of 23, all natural.....

not saying he is right but i believed him then and i still do now.

 

[gopro]

my weight training coach told me that bars are the way to go for mass. hes 270 lbs and 5'10, benched 455x1 raw, squatted 585x6 parallel raw, and deadlifted 605 raw at the age of 23, all natural.....

not saying he is right but i believed him then and i still do now.

As long as you are not saying he is right, because he is not. And by the way, I benched 500 raw in my twenties, and benched once per month. The rest of the time I did flat dumbells.

That said, it is still good that you have found a mentor and that you have confidence in him. I am sure that he is an excellent advisor overall and is truly helpful to you.

 

[HardToSquat]

Which is better, hard to say; however, I will give you a comparison of what I use for dumbbells and what I can use for the barbell bench. I currently use 110 pound dumbbells (per arm) for several reps. My current bench press for the same number of reps is 315 pounds. I switched over to dumbbells about a year ago and have honestly seen much better progress and mass gain than when I was barbell benching. Comparing dumbbell press weight versus barbell press weight for me is a 95 pound difference and I get the added advantage of stabilizer growth, no spotters and no shoulder pain.

 

[jakeluvspunk]

I do both. For me it seems barbell brings more strength and dumbell brings more size and shape.

 

[Skate67]

it's true because less force is dissipated from the prime movers to the ancillary musculature involved in the lift. Of course, the same is true about machines. The less stabilization involved, the more tension can be placed on the prime movers, and the greater the hypertrophic response.

So machines are more effective at improving one's physique?

 

[Squaggleboggin]

So machines are more effective at improving one's physique?

Not really. They can be more effective at isolating and improving certain muscles of one's physique, but in an unbalanced way that can easily result in injury. In short, they can improve part of one's physique, but the negative far outweighs the positive when it comes to machines for most uses IMO.

 

[DOMS]

There needs to be enough repetition and frequency of a given drill to allow for adaptation, but one also needs to begin to push variety as soon as possible ??? especially with athletes. Exercise variety will not only improve overall function in athletes and bodybuilders alike, but also markedly reduce the risk of injury due to pattern overload, muscle imbalances, and movement dysfunction.

By the way, for those coaches who want to know where machines fit into this discussion, the answer is: "Stop eating paint chips."

- Eric Cressey

 

[GFR]

Wow CP, I can't believe you chose to give such a detailed response here. You are a better man than me because I would have just said, "Your statement is right up there with the assertion that high reps build definition," and moved on, LOL.

He has great well researched answers, I'm surprised they didn't make him a training mod.....or at least offer it to him.