Dumbell vs Barbell bench press

[pats]

db by far is the way to go. In college when i was playing football I did a lot of BB and had to deal with the shoulder pain. It was a piss off and I decided to switch over to DB's. I was 190 and 5ft 11 then and putting up 275 in set of 2. Nothing to brag about I know but i'm not a power lifter i was a corner and im going for more of an athletic look.

I switched over to DB about a year ago though and can do the same weight and more without any pain. Also I noticed that they really work your stabilizers.

You got to think of it this way. In what situation will your arms be locked in the same position? when your playing any type of sport or anything each arm is going to be at a different angle at the point of contact unless your pushing a flat wall. So personally I say DB are way better and will get you a better look then BB because they also fire up those other muscles that tend to be ignored with the bigger lifts like the BB

 

[MDR]

5 year old thread.

 

[assassin]

its gotta be barbells, im afraid. i suppose we can have an arguement over the shape part, but for mass, barbells.

Mass is shape ... and I'd also go for barbell...

 

[superbigjohnson]

Dumbell bench press = Greater range of motion, use of more stabalizer muscles, and will correct muscular imbalance. Muscles used: Anconeus, Tricep Brachi, Anterior Deltiod and the Pectoralis major.

barbell press= Anterior Deltiod, Pectoralis major, and two of the three heads of the tricep: medial and long head

on a close grip barbell press= the muscles recruited are Anconeus, Tricep brachi, and primarily the part closest to the sternum of the Peectoralis major

 

[CaptainNapalm]

Both have their place.

 

[OttoRocket11]

I think it's best to do both.. Like 1 week I'll do DB flat bench and Incline BB bench and then thow a hammer strength in there also. Then the next week it's vice versa. DB Incline and BB flat with a Hammer Strength chest press... For chest I usually do 3 presses; DB/BB incline, DB/BB Flat, and a Hammer Strength.

Best IMO

 

[MissionHockey]

I used to always only use DBs when I trained but I realized after a while that my low pectorals were lagging behind big time. I have since switched over to BB and it has helped bring my lower pectorals up significantly. Now I incorporate both into my work I just switch them up every so often.

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[buddhaluv]

Dumbells - that way you can stretch your chest fibres all the way

 

[N_I_C_K]

To be honest this is kind of an unintelligent question. I chose barbell though for the hell of it.

 

[MegaTron]

Both are very similar, work the same muscles, etc.

Dumbbells are 'harder' because each arm must work independently, as well as all the stabilizing muscles. Dumbells also allow more range of motion, particularly in the shoulders and scapula.

You should really do some of each, say one workout a week with the barbell, the rest with dumbbells. also do both flat and inclined bench.

 

[dima]

From personal experience DB presses have increased my BB press quite a bit. I used to only use BB, but once I started using the DBs my BB press shot up! I'm sure everyone is different and what worked for me won't necessarily work for you, but that's what I noticed and I'm glad I mix it up now. Every other chest day I switch emphasis between DB and BB. I still do both almost each day, just not as much weight on one and more weight on the other.

 

[andreaus]

as jaybee said i think you need both. although i do love DB better. i f..kin hate chest day any way !!!

 

[amonroe]

Dumbbells because the work on stabilization (just my opinion - I'm no expert)!

 

[pwloiacano]

Barbell works best for me. I have twaeky shoulders and dumbells sometimes cause me more pain.
On another note, I was at the Rochester Bodybuilding Championships on Saturday night. Before the competition started, they had a bench press contest. Not for one rep max, but bodyweight reps. 180 lb class: winner performed 36 reps. ; 220 weight class: winner performed 28 reps. ; 240 lb weight class: winner performed 28 (yes 28) reps. that was very impressive!!!

 

[southpaw]

Great thread...interesting stuff. For me, db it better bang for my buck because of all the stabilizers that are engaged. I feel like mass and strength gains come faster from db training. But I mix it up, 50/50 anyway.

 

[tropical2011]

DB I think. You have more of a range that can be worked.

 

[Ace5high]

Haha, an oldie but a goodie...

Both is the correct answer ;-)

 

[IRONATHLETE]

Both are good but personally I like barbell

 

[gopro]

Universally neither is better or worse, but as an individual you must find which is more effective for YOU!

 

[6th Gear]

i had always used barbell press and never even attempted a dumbell press until i was in college. i made the switch because of a bad shoulder and i started lifting alone more often because my friends werent still as dedicated as i was. i was able to bench press 320 lbs during my senior year of high school, yet i had trouble with the 100 lb dumbells. when i started to use only dumbells i was able to press the 130s (biggest in my gym) for ten reps throughout each set. my shoulders chest and arms all grew substantially bigger. so from my experience i will use barbells to see how strong i am but as far as my workouts go i stick with dumbells.

 

[Wiseguy.]

Barbells FTW.

 

[Buffalo Blitz]

I would say barbell is better because if I were to only do barbell bench press I think my numbers would continue to go up on BOTH the barbell and the dumbell bench press. BUT if for some amount of time I did only DUMBELL bench press I think that my BARBELL bench press would go down or not improve at the same rate.


I usually do bench press twice per week and I am now going to switch one of those sessions to dumbells for four weeks and see what happens.

 

[benjianderson32]

Smith machine, a good one, is the best tool for bench press. It helps your form. you will get stronger but change it up. one month warm up then do 10 sets of 3 on smith. the next month warm up and do 5 sets of ten on db. always do two levels of incline see how stronger you get.

 

[westb51]

I've thought about this for almost 8 years and I have to say that just as some prefer jelly and others syrup, I like both, and turtles

 

[bjg]

Barbell bench press is an overrated exercise, it is a good exercise but it is not exceptional for building muscles, it is popular because it is a basic power lifting exercise. When it comes to build muscle size i don't see why barbell bench is any better than dumbbell. i use both to add some variation. with dumbbell you can go down well and do a full range of motion.

 

[Anibalyeah]

Barbell>