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Dumbells vs barbells
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viciousness
New member
dumbells FTW , barbells make my sternum hurt now when i go super heavy!
pridecommitment
New member
i know a bodybuilder, now 37, gave me the advice to use dumbbells ONLY for all heavy presses. he hasn't had an injury yet
go for it. personally though i like to change it up. muscle confusion FTW
go for it. personally though i like to change it up. muscle confusion FTW
captainahole
New member
I like dbells as well. very little barbell except the obvious. deads and squats
artificialaspirations
New member
i like barbells
B
Big_BK
Guest
I use both.
Not really looking to be a mass monster anymore. Im 34, gonna be on HRT probably 200mg test cyp and maybe 200mg Deca per week. My primary goals are overall fitness/conditioning with some muscle gain (10-15 lbs max). I dont want to risk tweaking my shoulders anymore so wanted to stick with dumbells only, throw in kettle bell, and jiu-jitsu as primary form of fitness.
Sounds good to me, also BJJ it's perfect for getting in shape, burns alot of cals!
chazk
New member
i get a much fuller range of motion with dumbells, I have always looked for the best excersizes that give as much stimulation to the muscle as possible so i dont waste time in the gym. I have dropped out flat barbell bench press and barbell arm curls from my work outs , I get much better range of motion curling with dumbells and pressing with them also.
Yup I do all bicep movements with dumbells standing curls, preacher curls one arm at a time. hammer curls, concentration curls.
I found my self using to much momentum with the barbell and involving alot of forearm .
only down side is people ask in the gym " how much do you bench " LOL and your like I dont do flat bench anymore i do dumbells presses and they look at you all confused and run back to the bench to bounce some more weight off their chest with their butt hovering over the bench then get up to look around and see who was watching as if anyone gives a shit how much someone else is lifting LOL. really no one does their are always bigger fish in the sea the way I look at it
Yup I do all bicep movements with dumbells standing curls, preacher curls one arm at a time. hammer curls, concentration curls.
I found my self using to much momentum with the barbell and involving alot of forearm .
only down side is people ask in the gym " how much do you bench " LOL and your like I dont do flat bench anymore i do dumbells presses and they look at you all confused and run back to the bench to bounce some more weight off their chest with their butt hovering over the bench then get up to look around and see who was watching as if anyone gives a shit how much someone else is lifting LOL. really no one does their are always bigger fish in the sea the way I look at it
I prefer dumbbells as well. Lot's of guys have uneven muscles example biceps because one arm is stronger then the other. Dumbbells you don't have to worry for one arm picking up the slack.
Scotsman
New member
With the exception of an injury both should be used. Be eliminating either one you are cutting your options pretty much in half. There are some exercises the require one or the other to perform but aside from those a variation can be done with both.
If you are going to build a house why would you automatically throw out some of your tools before getting started?
Cheers,
Scotsman
If you are going to build a house why would you automatically throw out some of your tools before getting started?
Cheers,
Scotsman
artificialaspirations
New member
I use em both too but prefer barbells
Barbells all the way when i bulk. Barbells i believe build a better foundation. I believe in terms of strength dumbells do not increase it as barbell. Dumbells give you a more pump up look, but barbell just give strenght. So what i do is bulk with barbells, and whe ni want to pump up and cut calories i mix barbells with dumbells.
I personally think DB build is better for this. All the stabilizer get worked much better than with a BB. BB injuries are more frequent because a lack of stbilizer strength.
If a guy can DB good weight, he surely can BB some good weight. However, I have seen guys who only do BB who switch to DB and can't do it for shit because the lack of strength in all of the little muscles involved to execute the movement properly.
I use both, but DB are what I primarily use.
well, talking squats, then who wouldn't use a BB if available?
That's a given.
For pressing though, I have to give the DB the +1 over the BB.
However, I love a BB shoulder press much better than a DB shoulder press.
I do both anyways, so whatevs. It's not a big deal.
OneBreath
Elite Mentor
Oh common dude, i bet you sneak a couple of sets with the pink ones and superset with some tricep kickbacks lol.
Dumbbells are fine so long as you squat and deadlift in the smith machine......
Dumbbells are fine so long as you squat and deadlift in the smith machine......
looool
I do a hybrid of squats and push press with dumbells during sets of complexes, but Db squats are hard if you do them with the Dbs on top of the shoulders or overhead.
Jocques Straap
New member
I agree DB squats don't look like the manliest exercise in the gym but they are still a great exercise. Even DB deadlifts are good.
physiologically this is not true. the amount of added ligament and musculature needed to stabilize each arm independent of the bb makes dbs much more efficient in building muscle where its needed, at the joint and in the development of the ligaments/tendons. a bb can easily mask muscle imbalances or injuries.
JDid23
New member
if this is true, then why are all beginners recommended to start with barbells? Of course for squats/deadlifts, it's a given, but how about bench press/OH press/Rows?
because its easier to balance a bar than it is dbs. takes much less coordination and muscle activation.
Synpax
Well-known member
It seems from doing them that a flat barbell at max effort forces/allows more work to be done by the pectorals. With DB, there isn't that center-of-chest-outward type of fulcrum.
Thoughts on this theory?
I do BB for my primary chest work, alternating flat and incline, and then follow up with some DB work for the extra stabalizers - incline flies and flat presses.
For delts, though, because I'm not targeting a centralized muscle group, I go with DB presses (standing).
Biceps I use the EZ bar because it gets my wrists at the right angle for bicep activation.
Thoughts on this theory?
I do BB for my primary chest work, alternating flat and incline, and then follow up with some DB work for the extra stabalizers - incline flies and flat presses.
For delts, though, because I'm not targeting a centralized muscle group, I go with DB presses (standing).
Biceps I use the EZ bar because it gets my wrists at the right angle for bicep activation.
JDid23
New member
ahh interesting... i always thought it was because even though DBs use more stabilizers, barbells are better at building mass because you can handle more weight with them.
Synpax
Well-known member
*ding*
slimjim1985
New member
I only do barbells on flat bench, rest are dumbells, cables and dips. Most people do not do flat bench with correct technique, that is why everyone is saying dumbells are better for rotator cuffs/shoulders. Get proper technique down to a "T" and you will notice a difference, it will feel natural and you will start dreaming about it. haha atleast I do
good plan. i also wouldnt go balls ass heavy ever if i where you. you shouldnt need to.
i between the jiujitsu and kettle bell i dont think i could go very heavy even if i tried lol
gettin old sucks doesnt it
how old are you rob
If you were over 30 i could hook you up, but they only take over 30 robs. please dont feel devestated by this and try to continue living life. im still here for you.
dr.shavargo
New member
iv always hear and thought that BB's are more for building and putting on mass and DB's were more for toning and cutting up the area, either way i use both and can put up a good amount of weight with either. Also do a lot of weighted dips!
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