Dumbell Press Vs Barbell Press, which is best??

gnolan

I realise that this is one of those questions, so let me qualify it by saying which is best for you?

Have just switched to Db Press due to what i like to call my "debilitating asymmetrical strength issue". So what do you do and what do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of each?

cowzerp

Dumbells are always better especially in upper body exercises.

rubadub

I find with the dumbbells I get a more natural ROM. Also I do one arm at a time and find I can lift more, I use a gripper in the other hand held isometrically which I find helps. Sometimes I will then drop the gripper and use the free hand to do assisted negatives, i.e. swing it up with the aid of the free hand and let it lower slowly.

I do not do many exercises so prefer dumbbells since it seems to work far more muscles.

gnolan

rubadub wrote: »

I use a gripper in the other hand held isometrically which I find helps

What do you mean by a 'gripper'. I have been tempted to do 'em one by one also but I imagine the heavier you go the more off balance you become.

Are negatives the real way to go to increasing the weight? My left side is way behind my right and i'm looking to catch up as quick as possible

yomchi

DB press is also safer for going heavy, no need for a spotter if it all goes pair shaped.

DB pressing also enables a much larger ROM in the negative.

djtechnics1210

gnolan wrote: »

My left side is way behind my right and i'm looking to catch up as quick as possible

Same has happened to me, looking for some advice on how to catch up quickly

rubadub

gnolan wrote: »

What do you mean by a 'gripper'. I have been tempted to do 'em one by one also but I imagine the heavier you go the more off balance you become.

I mean these. But strong ones, not the granny's ones you get in lifestyle sports.

I was reading a Pavel Tsatsouline thing about flexing your muscles like abs and arse when doing any workouts and it sort of gives you more power, I find this to work for me. You could always squeeze a tennis ball, or just a bunched up towel, or just clench your fist.

You do get off balance, but thats the good bit! you incorporate more muscles to stabilise yourself. When starting I sometimes held onto my stairs railing. You can also hold a lighter dumbell in the free hand and grip on it. I was reading this guys tips for grip strength.
He recommended wrapping a small towel on the dumbbell handle, I actually found I could get an extra rep out doing this. He was also saying having any sort of compressible thing is great for increasing grip strength. I have made a dip station and was thinking of getting gel bicycle hand grips for it.

Are negatives the real way to go to increasing the weight? My left side is way behind my right and i'm looking to catch up as quick as possible

Negatives are taxing on the central nervous system, you need adequate rest. I might only train once a week so do them, I like them. My left was weaker too, so I just laid off the right side a little until the left caught up. But many experienced guys here just say not to bother, and just keep training as normal.

gnolan

Well I'm going to try doing the Db press one at a time, but i can't help but feel that if i'm struggling to finish the last rep that i'm just going to rock right to left and use the momentum to push those last few inches.

Actually does it really matter, i just ate 1 kg of Cadbury's roses in 2 days, and if i drag my fat ass outta bed before 2pm tomorrow I'll feel like Wedensday has been a success!

rubadub

gnolan wrote: »

Well I'm going to try doing the Db press one at a time, but i can't help but feel that if i'm struggling to finish the last rep that i'm just going to rock right to left and use the momentum to push those last few inches.

Problem being? seriously, when doing barbell presses I will often bend my knees and shoot up to get an extra rep in, it is really the same as doing negatives, you are using momentum to get the weight up and then do a slow controlled let down, negative phase. Maybe practise doing it on purpose first as you will be incorporating new muscles you might not be used to.

gnolan wrote: »

if i drag my fat ass stablising ballast

Those tins are a nightmare, vanish overnight

Hanley

Jon wrote: »

DB press is also safer for going heavy, no need for a spotter if it all goes pair shaped.

Absolute pain in the arse to get up when working with 8 rep maxes and down tho!!

I actually can't incline dumbbell press, or seated dumbbell press without a spotter cos of it!!

I do like the dumbbells, they've been good to me recently. I like the idea of starting with ones you can do for say 3x12-15 and sinking them right in, as low as you can go almost, and then just going up to the next dumbbells week on week and trying to get to a single set of 8-10 with more normal ROM in 6-8 weeks.

yomchi

Na never had trouble lobbing 10kg's up on the knees, and then just slamming them on to the floor so everyone can see me :P

Good point tho!