Dumbbell vs Barbell - A Classic

[Alphatier]

I read on some other boards about the advantages/disadvantages of using Dumbbells/Barbells!

I want to know your opinion on this debate - mass,strength,shape!

I really prefer Dumbbells for my chest routine! Is it wrong to stick with the dumbbells only, or is it just as good!

LNM

[FireGuy]

Dumbells every time for a variety of reasons. First and foremost they offer a more natural range of motion for whatever your bodytype may be. With a barbell you are locked into a fixed plane. DB's allow for better contraction, utilize more stabilizer muscles and they also force your muscles to work independant of each other which can be especially helpful for muscles like biceps where many people tend to have one side stronger than the other.

[_Dave_]

Variation is key. You've got to trick your muscle into WORKING itself.

When I think b-bell, I think brut strength. When I think d-bell I think precision, isolation and stabilization.

You're obviously going to be able to push more weight with the b-bell and for a good reason. It 'costs' muscle to stabilize the d-bells - hence less weight. Building those muscles is what's going to get your overall strength up.

ONE THING that makes me flinch when I see people doing it is going too low in their range-of-motion with dumbells. Some will argue that's the right way. I do not. By going as low or deep as possible you're asking your tendons and joints to reverse the movement instead of your muscles. I typically start the up motion at or just a bit lower than when my upper arms are parallel to the floor. (Thoughts on that guys?)

[FireGuy]

If you are saying you stop a bench movement when you arms are parallel to the floor I do not agree with that at all. For most people that would be 4-6 inches above your chest. With benches the 1st third is mostly pecs, the 2nd third is mostly delts and the last third is mostly triceps. By stopping that far off your chest you are really missing out. Plus, you can lower a weight all the way down and still stop it with muscles by doing it slow and controlled. Yeah, if you are bouncing it off your chest then you have a problem.

[Alphatier]

Agreed with Fireguy, you should'nt be stopping when your arms are parallel to the floor. I feel that Dumbbells give me a more "satisfying" workout, and my chest always feels harder when I use Dumbbels. For me it's only dumbbells for chest.

[jimmyinkedup]

Dumbells every time for a variety of reasons. First and foremost they offer a more natural range of motion for whatever your bodytype may be. With a barbell you are locked into a fixed plane. DB's allow for better contraction, utilize more stabilizer muscles and they also force your muscles to work independant of each other which can be especially helpful for muscles like biceps where many people tend to have one side stronger than the other.

i agree = the older i get the more i use dumbells - they offer less stress on my joints due to the more natural range of motion., Still do some barbell work but dumbells are now so much more prevalen in my workouts.......

[Nooomoto]

I like the barbell because you can't bend dumbbells. That being said, I find reasons to use both.

[FireGuy]

Agreed with Fireguy, you should'nt be stopping when your arms are parallel to the floor. I feel that Dumbbells give me a more "satisfying" workout, and my chest always feels harder when I use Dumbbels. For me it's only dumbbells for chest.

The more I thought about the arms parallel to floor the more I disagree with it. If that is the way your are performing your pressing movements (DB or Straight Bar) you would not even have to use a bench, you could just lie on the floor and do them.

[jimmyinkedup]

the lower portion of the movement IMO utilizes more of the target muscle...upper portion incorporates alot of arms - JMO....

[Alphatier]

The more I thought about the arms parallel to floor the more I disagree with it. If that is the way your are performing your pressing movements (DB or Straight Bar) you would not even have to use a bench, you could just lie on the floor and do them.

x 2 .....

[kaberle_15]

I do both but I use dumbbells more and if I had to pick or recommend doing only one it would be dumbbells.

[MontanaMA]

Depends on the exercise... Bench Presses with Dumbbells are much better, because you can get a bigger range of motion.

[kickinit]

I personally think one or the other only is kind of dumb, I do prefer dumbells but like on some of my bis, chest and some shoulders I prefer a barbell since the squeeze is nice you can get.

[jfalco]

The more I thought about the arms parallel to floor the more I disagree with it. If that is the way your are performing your pressing movements (DB or Straight Bar) you would not even have to use a bench, you could just lie on the floor and do them.

,

lol. Didn't occur to me until you said this. I remember when I was a kid and I didn't have a bench trying to bench press with db lying on my bedroom floor. It was stupid and I only tried a couple of times.

I have a somewhat limited range of motion due to a shoulder injury and I can't bring the bar all the way to my chest. doesn't matter if it doesn't have any weight on it, I have to say a couple of inches above my chest. I was half way agreeing with that guy until I though about it. Even with my limited range of motion, my arms go way below parallel.

[Dobie-BOY]

Barbell bench press kills my shoulders and triceps. First injury I ever had was doing barbell bench press

[green22]

Barbell for me. the only reason is that I train alone and getting in position with large dumbbell is really hard for me.

[reardbandit]

I am the same way, green. I train alone and it is hard to sling a 75lb dumbbell over my head for an overhead press or something, when I can just do a military press or whatever. I like having both on hand though. I generally try to do one large compound movement and one smaller isolation movement per body part per session, so I end up alternating a lot between the two. Good OP

[Gears]

Barbell for me. the only reason is that I train alone and getting in position with large dumbbell is really hard for me.

Same, as well as my gym not having DBs that break 105lbs.

[JiGGaMaN]

i just realized i can curl a set of 12 with one arm and only 2 with the other. using dumbells from now on.

[NBRD1808]

i do prefer bar bell for chest for its abillity to use heavier weights and its more practical for me when i train alone but with that being said i like to switch to dumbells every now and then because of the contraction and increased range of motion

[BBronco]

I prefer barbell because i dont get as many ROM problems but i generally try to switch it up every 3 weeks or so

[Friend]

Dumbells definately. I feel much more comfortable using them, especially for doing bench. Plus, when i reach failure i can just drop them unlike a bb, which if i did drop i would be booking in for a facial reconstruction.

[Schmidty]

The longer im in the game i realize that bbells just for ego lifts and dbells r much more effective. But i get hurt more often tryn to get a ego w dbells

[CptAmericaX]

I like to suprise my muscles I switch it up, dumbells one day light, then next chest work out heavy barbell then next light barbell then heavy dumbell just depends on the mood im in what im feeling at that time

[youngerlion]

i just realized i can curl a set of 12 with one arm and only 2 with the other. using dumbells from now on.

lmao. i look like the guy off lady in the water. and im feelin great.

[youngerlion]

http://studyprof.com/blog/wp-content...-the-water.jpg