barbell or dumbell

[biggen]

it has been my belief that dumbell bench would biuld the mass of the chest the best incline decline and flat. am i mistaken. will barbell give me better effects?

[nickrizz]

i think dumbells definately build mass.

[Spoon]

it has been my belief that dumbell bench would biuld the mass of the chest the best incline decline and flat. am i mistaken. will barbell give me better effects?

by using dumbels you are actually increasing the strenghth of your stabilizer muscles since you are using them separately unlike a barbel in unison. if done properly with perfect form they should be the same. unless you have acquired the perfect form, stick with the dumbels to strenghthen them stabilizers

[BigMike J]

If you are looking to build mass stick with the barbell.

[immy]

so which one is it,bar bell or dumbell

[bubbathegut]

u can debate this til the cows come home, but I think its personal preference...

[LM1332]

its good to do both and just alternate every other week

[Darkness]

its good to do both and just alternate every other week

I have to agree on this one although dumbells work better on me, I stii do both though.

[JayDawg]

I have always heard that barbell is gearded more towards mass because you can use more weight. But the dumbbell's allow you a greater range of motion which help strengthen your stabilizers which in turn makes you stronger and allows you to use more weight with the barbells. So I think any good routine will include both dumbbell and barbell.

[Bcrown1]

I like to incorporate both, I think it's more personal preference than anything.

[sp9]

I like dumbbells but also because they do not tear up your shoulders like a barbell since they allow a truly natural range of motion.

[se11]

its good to do both and just alternate every other week

yeah thats what I do. So you don't get bored with the same thing, and to try different exercises.

[Jack87]

Every 3rd workout I switch up and do flat dumbbell bench presses

I can't go as heavy, but they give me a better range of motion

and stretch and isolate my chest better... Then it's back to flat

barbell benches for 2 workouts with heavier weight for more power...

Works great at keeping your muscles guessing...

[ironpumpindoc]

You can always switch up with the exercise too. Do flat bench with barbell, then incline with db, thats what I do. You get full power with the BB, then more pump with the DB's. However, going heavy w/ DB and over extending allows you to build a wider peck that travels over the rib cage toward the arm.

[biggen]

thank you all very much believe it or not this has completly anwered my question. all replies were very helpful and i think we all should agree it is best to keep the muscle guessing every once in a while. agreed? i believe they both build chest very well and either way you look at it they both will give you the same returns if used together. B/C if you change up your routine i think it probobaly gives better results because it shocks the muscles.
thanks again biggen

[bubbathegut]

all these butt pics does crazy things to this guy,,

[sore24/7]

barbell builds more mass and strength for me over the years but dumbells (incline and decline) seem to bring out some more definition in the pecs. But hell thats just my experience.

[alphamedic]

by using dumbels you are actually increasing the strenghth of your stabilizer muscles since you are using them separately unlike a barbel in unison. if done properly with perfect form they should be the same. unless you have acquired the perfect form, stick with the dumbels to strenghthen them stabilizers

I think you hit it on the head...I do alternate them....each week....always motivates me a little after two weeks to see how much I increase on the barbell bench....I rep with about 235 for 3 sets of 8 to 10...not too special, but I increase 5 pounds a week, so I am happy!!...p.s. my max should be at 350lbs by now....245 (2 weeks ago.) .

[bermich]

Use dumbells as primary. 80 percent of the time then switch to barbell the other 20 percent. Dumbells will allow you to up your strength with the flatbar. Basically, do dumbells for most of the month, then at the end, see how much your weight goes up on the bench. BTW, dumbells help your inner chest where as, the flatbench does not unless you use a really close grip.