Barbell vs Dumbell on Press

[Mindwraith]

Other than the safety "I got no partner to spot me" factor

What are the pro's and cons of, or differences between Barbell press and Dumbell Press?

 

[Fatty4You]

Dumbbells force you to stabilize the weight more than barbells cause you got two free floating weights. This is good. Plus, i think its a variation of the movement, and i am a supporter of variations in lifting.

Plus, i find that my dumbbell strength and my barbell strength don't correlate exactly. For instance, strength gains on barbell might mean i am even a little weaker when i try and go back to dumbbells. I assume this means that they work the muscle in a slightly different way, and therefore both are good for overall development.

-Fatty

 

[T-Rage]

Well, I think barbells tend to be more likely to cause injury because they lock the shoulders and arms into a static position. Dumbells allow the shoulders and arms to change their angles all the time allowing the muscles to work in more ergonomic positions with less chance of injury. Also, dumbells are going to build up more stabilizing muscles which is good.

 

[Fatty4You]

One time my friend was doing flat bench with dumbbells and he lost control and the weights drifting inward, as if he was going to hug something. He couldn't stop them and they came crashing down on the opposite sides. The problem was, he didn't let of the weight cause he was afraid to drop it or something, so he's lying there with his arms wrapped around his face and weight pinning them down. I laughed so hard i almost crapped my pants.

-Fatty

 

[TheOak84]

if your goin for size i say barbells. i like DB's too..

Hell, do both...

 

[b fold the truth]

Barbell:

safer, more weight, more muscle recruited, builds more overall mass, cheaper, etc...etc...etc...

I can't think of much of a reason TO use the dbells...

B True

 

[strider364]

Barbell:

safer, more weight, more muscle recruited, builds more overall mass, cheaper, etc...etc...etc...

I can't think of much of a reason TO use the dbells...

B True

B,

I was under the impression that dumbells put less stress on the rotator cuff. Also I though that with dumbells it promotes a balance between right and left side strength and physique wise. Just throwing this out for the sake of discussion, not trying to be a snot.

 

[Tiervexx]

i feel like dumbbell bench uses very little tricep and shoulder and almost isolates the chest, as opposed to barbell bench which puts a shit-ton of stress on all three muscle groups

 

[skaman607]

well if youre using BB form then you have to squeeze your chest to make them stay up (by that i mean not drifting to the sides) so you do use a lot of chest in it

 

[solidj55]

Barbell:

safer, more weight, more muscle recruited, builds more overall mass, cheaper, etc...etc...etc...

I can't think of much of a reason TO use the dbells...

B True

I agree on the cheaper but thats about it. I feel dumbells are safer PERSONALLY. I also feel that more weight is relative. If your hitting the muscle your hitting the muscle, of course you can use more weight with a bar but your able to train each side equally with dumbells. I am not arguing but I dont see how more muscle is recruited with barbell, I thought dumbells recruited more muscle because of the stabilzers they hit that normally wouldnt get hit with a barbell. Not sure just what I thought. How does it build more overall mass?

 

[rjl296]

Barbell:

safer, more weight, more muscle recruited, builds more overall mass, cheaper, etc...etc...etc...

I can't think of much of a reason TO use the dbells...

B True

increased ROM maybe. that's about it, I stick to the barbell 95 % of the time

 

[vinylgroover]

I use both in the same workout.

Both will do much more for your shoulders than that lateral shit everyone does.

 

[erickthegreat11]

I do both. I'd look at it this way. You take for example someone who uses a bench press machine to train the bench press. Then next time they go and do a free weight barbell bench press. Obviously, we all know that there will be considerably less weight this time b/c stabilizer muscles have never been worked. The same idea can be applied to the db press. Starting off the bottom is relatively easy, but when going further up, it becomes more difficult. In a bb bench no effort needs to be made to hold the bar together, the bar is solid, as where dbells are separated and increased effort need be recruited (by the same muscles pressing during the bb press) to keep the dbells from drifting by your sides. Same idea, different stabilizer muscles. A little long winded

 

[b fold the truth]

B,

I was under the impression that dumbells put less stress on the rotator cuff. Also I though that with dumbells it promotes a balance between right and left side strength and physique wise. Just throwing this out for the sake of discussion, not trying to be a snot.

I understand...I figured that I would get some questions about my post. I remember a post a while back where a guy said that he hurt his shoulders...doing flat dbell presses. There was a discussion at the time about people having less injuries, actually, with the bar.

I have hurt my rotators seriously...twice. Once with a bench press with a bar (horrible form!!!!) and once doing overheads on the smith machine.

With dbells...I just can't get locked into position with a heavy weight and focus on pushing it hard and intense. There is too much room for error which often causes injury.

Of course...this is all just my opinion...

B True

 

[b fold the truth]

I agree on the cheaper but thats about it. I feel dumbells are safer PERSONALLY. I also feel that more weight is relative. If your hitting the muscle your hitting the muscle, of course you can use more weight with a bar but your able to train each side equally with dumbells. I am not arguing but I dont see how more muscle is recruited with barbell, I thought dumbells recruited more muscle because of the stabilzers they hit that normally wouldnt get hit with a barbell. Not sure just what I thought. How does it build more overall mass?

I used to feel that way too...but my body has told me different over the years.

I do not like the idea of isolation exercises at all. Make your ENTIRE BODY grow through hard and heavy compound exercises. The bench press makes so many muscles grow beyond the pecs...so many more.

It is just my opinion and you have very quality points also...

B True

 

[strider364]

I understand...I figured that I would get some questions about my post. I remember a post a while back where a guy said that he hurt his shoulders...doing flat dbell presses. There was a discussion at the time about people having less injuries, actually, with the bar.


Of course...this is all just my opinion...

B True

I hear ya, it's all what works for the individual. I have sworn by dumbels since I was 18, and had great results. I'm sure you've had great results with the barbell. I thinks it's also about experimentation and discovering what works best for oneself.

 

[solidj55]

I used to feel that way too...but my body has told me different over the years.

I do not like the idea of isolation exercises at all. Make your ENTIRE BODY grow through hard and heavy compound exercises. The bench press makes so many muscles grow beyond the pecs...so many more.

It is just my opinion and you have very quality points also...

B True

Hope you didnt think I was being a dick dude, just my opinion is what I stated. Your the big strong one, not me lol.

 

[Mindwraith]

Wow, quite a few replies. I'm gonna have to go with what I can on this. I don't have a partner and its not always easy to find a spotter in my gym, depends on what time I get there. I may alternate this somehow, perhaps do flats with a barbell one week and incline with dumbell, and then change it and do incline with barbell and flat with dumbell the next. Most everyone made some valid points, there are definately pros and cons on both sides, might be best to get the pros of both by doing that.

 

[b fold the truth]

Hope you didnt think I was being a dick dude, just my opinion is what I stated. Your the big strong one, not me lol.

Didn't feel that way at all...not even in the least...

Remember...I once barely bench pressed 95 pounds...

B True

 

[eastarr69]

If you dont have a spotter, neither is safe if going heavy, but the bar lift will be safer of the to...especially since you can rack the bar...you aint gonna rack dumbells.....plus, if you go heavy on bells, you have no spotter, you have to get the heavies up, then into position, then you have to get started...the bar is racked and you can gauge your lift, the bells if to heavy you have to drop and can damage your shoulders pretty bad....

E

 

[Mindwraith]

But then again if the bar is too heavy and you can't rack it, your head might be lopped off by the bar lol.

 

[solidj55]

But then again if the bar is too heavy and you can't rack it, your head might be lopped off by the bar lol.

Very true. I like both BB and DB exercises but in my opinion neither are really "safe" when lifitng without a spotter. But if I had to choose what to do when lifting alone I personally would pick dumbells. For myself I can push myself harder with dumbells than I can with BB when lifting alone. But thats just me. And also, about the heavier weight thing. I agree with what Fatty4You said, my babell and dumbell strengths are completely different. Take for example on my bench press, when I was at my strongest I could bench 300 for 6 reps, 315 for 4 reps, drop down and hit 275 for 8 to 10 reps, drop down again to 225 and hit that for 20+ reps all with about 5 minutes rest between sets.
I also hit a 365 single in a bench press meet. I remember the week after I did this workout I decided to do some dumbells instead. I did 3 sets of 8 with the 85's and that was just about to failure on the 8th rep on every set. Thats pretty damn sad when compared to what I could do with the barbell. But having said that, in my opinion for the best functional exercise as well as the best exercise to hit the muscle I would say use dumbells. This is not gospel just one mans opinion. I have been using dumbells mixed with bodyweight exercises only for my upper body for the last 12 weeks. I have never felt tighter and looked better. But everyone is different.

 

[ThePolishHammer]

Why Dumbells?: larger range of motion, work stabalizer muscles, create more balance and symetry

 

[solidj55]

Why Dumbells?: larger range of motion, work stabalizer muscles, create more balance and symetry

I believe you like dumbells as much as me!?!?

 

[ThePolishHammer]

heh, from your posts, yeah. Sounds like it.
Im a big dumbell fan, especially when im trying to put on mass.

 

[Madd Hatter]

Here's a question: is there a formula or rough estimate one can use to translate db weight to bb weight and vice versa? i.e. if I'm benching 80's that would be equal to x bb, or if i'm benching 180 bb that would be equal to using the x's.

 

[Mindwraith]

Today I switched to the barbell on press (except for flys of course). I'll be doing the barbell for the next few weeks to see if I can find a difference or notice any growth. I'm expecting that since this is a change in my workout I should see some growth regardless since I might be hitting different muscles.

I normally do 2 75's on 5x5 thats 150 lbs

For barbell I had a harder time for some reason, I started with 90 lbs to test, then I added another 35 lbs throughout the 5 sets. This only adds up to 125 but then again I'm not counting the bar. I'm going to start at 125 and move up to 150 next week, I'm betting I can do it just as easily as I did today.

 

[zackdarnell]

I'm not counting the bar.

Why not? You lift the bar, so count the bar.

 

[Mindwraith]

lol didn't realize people counted the bar. Main reason I dont count is because I'm clueless as to what it weighs.

 

[zackdarnell]

lol didn't realize people counted the bar. Main reason I dont count is because I'm clueless as to what it weighs.

If you lift it, count it. Most 7' long olympic bars weigh 45 lbs.

 

[solidj55]

I am doubting in three weeks that you will see any growth, you may see strength increases though because your CNS will respond to the new exercises.

 

[02gixxersix]

I dont even bother with barbell for the most part. I do all my heavy presses with dumbells and then i hit barbells light on the smith because they fuck with my shoulder. besides i like the sqeeze you get at the top with dumbells and i feel i get a better range of motion.

 

[solidj55]

I dont even bother with barbell for the most part. I do all my heavy presses with dumbells and then i hit barbells light on the smith because they fuck with my shoulder. besides i like the sqeeze you get at the top with dumbells and i feel i get a better range of motion.

What he said minus using the smith machine...

 

[Gretak9]

I use dumbells mostly because I lift without a partner. If I had the choice I'd start out with the flat barbell press with a spotter than go to incline dumbells. With my routine I still start out with the barbell but only do 3 sets and use it mainly as a warm-up for he heavy dumbells. Besides with the dumbells, getting them up adds to your workout!

 

[Mindwraith]

I use dumbells mostly because I lift without a partner. If I had the choice I'd start out with the flat barbell press with a spotter than go to incline dumbells. With my routine I still start out with the barbell but only do 3 sets and use it mainly as a warm-up for he heavy dumbells. Besides with the dumbells, getting them up adds to your workout!

Strangely I've begun experimenting and have realized I can actually do fine on the barbell without a spotter for the most part. Chances are I can grab the guy next to me for the last set. With HST I have a feeling I'll be able to handle it on all but the 5 rep microcycles without a partner.