Barbell bench versus dumbbell bench

Deus Ex Machina

I am sure there are plenty of differences between the effects and benefits of benching with barbell and dumbbells, but what are they? As far as I can see they engage similar muscles, so is one preferable to another for depending on one's training goals?

EileenG

The big differences are that you can lift more weight on a barbell, so you have a bigger training effect.

On a dumbbell bench press, both sides move independently so you can work on weaknesses better.

Ideally, do both.

thirdmantackle

EileenG wrote: »

The big differences are that you can lift more weight on a barbell, so you have a bigger training effect.

On a dumbbell bench press, both sides move independently so you can work on weaknesses better.

Ideally, do both.

Really?
do dumbbell presses even-up the imbalances in chest muscle size?

barryd09

for a long time i only ever did dumbell chest presses,could only ever press the 27.5kg dumbells.using bar primarily now and my bench press is up to 68kg now.

EileenG

thirdmantackle wrote: »

Really?
do dumbbell presses even-up the imbalances in chest muscle size?

Better than barbell work.

Brian?

barryd09 wrote: »

for a long time i only ever did dumbell chest presses,could only ever press the 27.5kg dumbells.using bar primarily now and my bench press is up to 68kg now.

That's normal. A 100Kg bencher probably won't be able to bench 2x50Kg bells for the most part.

itsallaboutheL

briankeating wrote: »

That's normal. A 100Kg bencher probably won't be able to bench 2x50Kg bells for the most part.

Not a hope.

barryd09

briankeating wrote: »

That's normal. A 100Kg bencher probably won't be able to bench 2x50Kg bells for the most part.

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

Not a hope.

aahhh right,i was getting a bit frustrated not being able to press anymore than the 27.5kg's.
not sure why it took me so long to start using the barbell.

AntiVirus

I was only thinking about this yesterday. I was doing set with 20kg dumbells and noticed that when my arms get tired I tend to focus a lot on balance to keep them straight.

So whats the normal weight difference for people going from dumbell to barbell, from what barryd09 is saying its about 22% weight increase.

Brian?

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

Not a hope.

You know someone is going to come on now and say they can bench more with db's than with a barbell, don't you?

itsallaboutheL

briankeating wrote: »

You know someone is going to come on now and say they can bench more with db's than with a barbell, don't you?

And i'm going to tell them they have a pre-existing injury or imbalance or some such.

Then post a pic of a cat.


Simples

itsallaboutheL

AntiVirus wrote: »

I was only thinking about this yesterday. I was doing set with 20kg dumbells and noticed that when my arms get tired I tend to focus a lot on balance to keep them straight.

So whats the normal weight difference for people going from dumbell to barbell, from what barryd09 is saying its about 22% weight increase.

Ahh it varies massively depending on program types and exercise frequuency and the general bias towards BB Benching in the training community.

I've never benched 50kg dumbells, but i could if i spent a few weeks training in the movement pattern and adjusting to stabilising the DBs.

AntiVirus

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

Ahh it varies massively depending on program types and exercise frequuency and the general bias towards BB Benching in the training community.

I've never benched 50kg dumbells, but i could if i spent a few weeks training in the movement pattern and adjusting to stabilising the DBs.

cheers, I must try and do some barbell bench presses. I've worked my way upto 22kg on the dumbells but thought I needed to get better before trying out the barbell.

itsallaboutheL

AntiVirus wrote: »

cheers, I must try and do some barbell bench presses. I've worked my way upto 22kg on the dumbells but thought I needed to get better before trying out the barbell.

There's a heap of these threads, if you run a search it's been answered fairly comprehensively.

But what it boils down to is that while comparable they are two different exercises

BossArky

AntiVirus wrote: »

So whats the normal weight difference for people going from dumbell to barbell, from what barryd09 is saying its about 22% weight increase.

Recently my dumbbell bench was 30kg 3x6 when my barbell bench was around 80kg 3x6. Cannot give you a true 1 rep max comparison 'cos I'd probably knock my teeth out if I went for a 1RM with dumbbells.

AntiVirus

BossArky wrote: »

Recently my dumbbell bench was 30kg 3x6 when my barbell bench was around 80kg 3x6. Cannot give you a true 1 rep max comparison 'cos I'd probably knock my teeth out if I went for a 1RM with dumbbells.

Wow thats a massive 33% increase :eek:

I've no idea what my max dumbell rep is either, I just increase the weight a bit when I fell I can.

brianthebard

AntiVirus wrote: »

Wow thats a massive 33% increase :eek:

Not really, its a 25% difference between the lifts, which is around the accepted norm for variance between the two. Its not really an increase or decrease, they are two different lifts as L said, like front and back squat.

AntiVirus

brianthebard wrote: »

Not really, its a 25% difference between the lifts, which is around the accepted norm for variance between the two. Its not really an increase or decrease, they are two different lifts as L said, like front and back squat.

Yeah, its just interesting to see the difference. I didn't think there would be such a difference between the 2.

oh and

going from 60 -> 80 is a 33% increase
going from 80 -> 60 is a 25% decrease :P

Brian?

itsallaboutheL wrote: »

And i'm going to tell them they have a pre-existing injury or imbalance or some such.

Then post a pic of a cat.


Simples

Your standard answer so.

itsallaboutheL

briankeating wrote: »

Your standard answer so.

Meow.