Dumbell Vs Barbell

[cjingram]

If my Search-Fu sucks and this is a common question, Forgive the and feel free to flame

I just started the WBB1, and because I'm doing this by myself I'm a bit nervous about doing the bench press without a spot. So today I did it with dumbells instead - is this going to hurt my gains? One good friend said it would be just as good or better, but another said the dumbells work more isolated muscles and I need to be using the barbell to gain size.


Thanks for the info

[MM]

It will be just as good or better, it will also work more isolated muscles; you need chicken and peanut butter to gain size.

[andy51]

ya you'll be fine.

[cjingram]

ya you'll be fine.

Thanks guys

[[[[----]]]]

Yeah, i just recently switched to db's fulltime and i have noticed my chest looks a lot bigger.

[rgriffin]

IMHO barbell Bench sucks. I think it is really nothing but a show off exercise. I cant remember the last time I seen one of the top bodybuilders in a magazine doing barbell bench. I feel like I get more from dumbells. At the top of the movement I also have the option to rotate my hands inward for a tighter pec squeeze. But what sucks about dumbells is lugging those 130 lb dumbells into the starting position. I dont know how strong you are, so that might not be an issue for you.

[ChicagoMob]

A nice mixture of both is healthy for a bodybuilder.

[[[[----]]]]

man, i have a problem getting the 90's into starting position. 85's even

[[[[----]]]]

lol, forget the 130's

[GMCtrk]

Whats so hard about it? You sit down with the DB's sitting on your quads, then you just fall back on the bench and bam, push up and you've got it. not hard at all

[[[[----]]]]

My back pops when i fall back a lot to do them.

[emjlr3]

ive gotten up to 120s and go no prob getting them into position or roliing back or anything, heh i think the hardest part is picking them up and walking over to the bench im going to use, o yea that and the last rep

[~Stangzorized~]

I have always used DB's and I love them. Seems like it has hurt my BB numbers though for some reason. I usually do 110's for 10 reps and my BB is only ~275.

[FireBug]

DB = good stuff

Stangorized, if you switched back to only BB it will increase quickly. However, i dont see any point, the BB bench IMO is an ego lift not the best mass/usable strengh increase.

[emjlr3]

DB = good stuff

Stangorized, if you switched back to only BB it will increase quickly. However, i dont see any point, the BB bench IMO is an ego lift not the best mass/usable strengh increase.

i had been doing db for the past 2.5 months, I switchd to bb last week and had a pretty good lift, did really go down at all on bb, maybe up a little bit, I will see how it goes again today and let you know

[IronCard 05]

I have always used DB's and I love them. Seems like it has hurt my BB numbers though for some reason. I usually do 110's for 10 reps and my BB is only ~275.

i've heard of stuff like that...a kid at my school reps the 120's for lik 6 and max bench is only 255... i have trouble w/ 95's after lik 4 reps but am maxing around 275. if your goal is power go with the bar.