Bench press vs dumbells

[chiefwiggum]

I'm new to this forum and I'd appreciate any help. I hate bench press and I always top off at about two plates. I've tried drop sets, negatives, low volume, all kinds of shit. However, I can go quite heavy on dumbells for good reps with good form. By only doing dumbells am I missing out on something benchpress would do. Any reasons why. I guess the question is, can I get as big with the dumbells as I could if I lifted heavy barbell bench press.

Thanks

wiggum

 

[Mike80]

when doing chest I mix up my routine. One week I do the bench next week I do dumbells and sometimes I use the smith machine too.

 

[chiefwiggum]

I'm new to this forum and I'd appreciate any help. I hate bench press and I always top off at about two plates. I've tried drop sets, negatives, low volume, all kinds of shit. However, I can go quite heavy on dumbells for good reps with good form. By only doing dumbells am I missing out on something benchpress would do. Any reasons why. I guess the question is, can I get as big with the dumbells as I could if I lifted heavy barbell bench press.

Thanks

wiggum

Thanks mike, but still, can I get as big using dumbells or should I keep trying to do flatbench

 

[ultragainz]

both are good bro....dumbells give you a more stretch

 

[curling]

Naw dude flat bench sux. Not only can you get as big with the dumbbells as you can with the bar you can get bigger. Because the range of motion is more. Also it is alot easier on your shoulders than the damn flat bench bar.

Keep using dumbbells and you will blow away the bar users with strength and size imho.

 

[HappyScrappy]

assuming you are using proper form, use whatever works for you.
your body doesn't know the difference between the two. it isn't like your muslces are saying "mother fuck, the bench again? shit, I'm not gonna grow unless he uses dumbells"
if you aren't gaining from something reevaluate something in your routine. either weight, reps, intensity, diet, something. change it up until it works.
the fact that you can go up in dbs and not in bench makes me wonder what you are doing in bench differently.
try switching to decline bench, that focuses more directly on your chest. or go to incline.

there are tons of things you can try - try them until you see some results. once you do, keep doing that until you stop seeing results. once that happens, change shit around again.
not rocket science.

 

[clune]

It always worked for me to let go of the bench totally for about three weeks. I would just do heavy incline and flat dumbells. When I would come back to benching my max was always improved dramatically. Give it a shot, it worked for me.

 

[chiefwiggum]

assuming you are using proper form, use whatever works for you.
your body doesn't know the difference between the two. it isn't like your muslces are saying "mother fuck, the bench again? shit, I'm not gonna grow unless he uses dumbells"
if you aren't gaining from something reevaluate something in your routine. either weight, reps, intensity, diet, something. change it up until it works.
the fact that you can go up in dbs and not in bench makes me wonder what you are doing in bench differently.
try switching to decline bench, that focuses more directly on your chest. or go to incline.

there are tons of things you can try - try them until you see some results. once you do, keep doing that until you stop seeing results. once that happens, change shit around again.
not rocket science.

Thanks scrappy, Im working out in about two hours and it's chest day

incline dumbell1 warmup 12
1x70/80/90x10

Incline fly
no warm-up
1x40x10
1x50x10
1x60x10

Flat flyes supersetted with peck deck
1x40x10
1x50x10
1x60x10

Any suggestions
thanks
wiggum

 

[plifter]

dumbells are excellent for size. I'm a powerlifter so of course I use a barbell. I use dumbells as an assistance exercise.

 

[bbigman2000]

I am convinced that barbell bench press is mainly delts and tris, though its the no 1 ego exercise for me, I always finish off with dumbell flyes and cable x overs.

 

[manny78]

Dumbells movement is natural... bench press is painful. I stopped the bench cause i was unable to have a good workout. But this is very personal.

 

[Maxx Out]

I started useing d-bell's only about 6 weeks ago because of a shoulder injury(I couldn't even bench 135 on the straight bar because of the injury). My strength has been going up dramatically and my chest is already starting to even out! Also I tried benching a few weeks ago w/the straight bar and I've worked it in as my 3rd exercise. So far I've been going up to 185lbs on St.Bench for about 10-12reps for my last set. I'm almost healed but I think Im going to leave db's as my main exercise for anther few months and then see where that takes me, hopefully it will have helped my bench alot.

So I think it will help alot w/your bench!! Give it a shot, what do u have to loose?

 

[marky c]

Dumbells are just as good or better BUT before you swear off the bench try varying the width of your grip on the bar - experiment is the name of the game

 

[Cackerot69]

DB's are better than BB for pecs.

BTW, that comment about muscles not knowing the difference between exercises is flawed because the nervous system can differentiate between exercises.

 

[HappyScrappy]

ha ha - so my nervous system can tell if I'm doing bench over db shit? all it knows is that it is under a different stress and the different range of motion stimulates different fibers - but if you genuinely belive that the body knows what you are doing or what weight - you're a bit off.
it is oblivious to what you are doing, all it knows is how much of a load is on what muscles and it reacts accordingly for the future.

 

[MaGilicuti]

good to change it up from time to time i think. some people do both dumbell bench and bench press in one workout

 

[maxellyz]

I would recommend doing both dumbbells do give you a better stretch but the bench press is still a great exercise

 

[Liberator]

Speaking for myself

Ive started using both, but I always do bar first.

Bar seems to make you thick as hell, especially flat bench, incline seems to polish it off

Can dumbells make you just as thick?

I dont seem to get the same satisfaction with dumbells as I get with bar, I like the feeling of huge weight

I always thought

Barbell for mass

Dumbells for refining

 

[goahead]

Initially, it is easier to go heavy with the barbell than with db presses due to stabillizing issues. Therefore the first few barbell workouts render more result

BUT after giving the dumbells a try for 3 months I must conclude that when I was able to stabilize really heavy dumbells I got better result than from benches...

Might be a personal thing but if u need my 0.2 cents, take it

 

[Robboe]

As a general rule of thumb [notice i said 'general']:

Dumbells are best for upper-body.

Barbells are best for Lower-body.

this is, however, a general rule and doesn't apply to all. All Individuals are different.

I personally mixx them up for upper body and use barbells are machines for legs.