Bench press Vs. Dumbell Bench

[brownzilla786]

I usually bench if I am working chest/tricep, but once in a while I will do dumbbell bench. Dumbbell bench is a lot harder in my opinion, and I cant lift as much weight as I can when I bench. Are there any pros/cons to each workout? Which exercise will maximize my workout?

 

[theeedude]

Dumbbell works the stabilizer muscles (biceps for example) too. I personally just do bench, dumbbells are too much hassle, and I do biceps thoroughly on the pull up bar.

 

[EGGO]

Switch it up once it a while. After that, form is what will best maximize the workout.

 

[Ballatician]

Keep doing the bench if you just want to increase how much you want to lift. The dumbbell bench will help you develop those core muscles you are always hearing about and can really increase your overall strength. Each has their own pros so I do both.

 

[vi edit]

I just like dumbells for the simple fact that I don't really need much of a spotter to do them. If you get in trouble you just drop them to your side.

Plus I almost always go the way of stabilizing over raw weight if given the chance. I just feel that it is a more complete workout than simply lifting for numbers.

 

[SVT Cobra]

You should incorporate both into your workout. I usually do dumbells for a month after 6 months of barbell bench. Just to wake up those stabalizers.

 

[Kadarin]

Yeah, I switch them up, too.

 

[brownzilla786]

Thanks for the info guys, I guess I'm gonna switch it up more often

 

[sgrinavi]

I like to switch positions, i.e. decline dumbell on wk 1 and incline with the bar on wk 2
Giant sets work great, i.e. fly's to failure followed, without rest, by incline bench.

use a spotter and, always, use GREAT form.....

 

[TecHNooB]

Originally posted by: sgrinavi
I like to switch positions, i.e. decline dumbell on wk 1 and incline with the bar on wk 2
Giant sets work great, i.e. fly's to failure followed, without rest, by incline bench.

use a spotter and, always, use GREAT form.....

What is Great form?

 

[cKGunslinger]

I switched from barbell to dumbbells when I started to get some pain in my shoulder, and everything has been sweet since. I had to take a huge cut in the amount of weight I was lifting at first (about %50) until I got the hang of manipulating the dumbbells, then I quickly increased it to almost match my barbell weight within a few workouts.

 

[EGGO]

Originally posted by: sgrinavi
I like to switch positions, i.e. decline dumbell on wk 1 and incline with the bar on wk 2
Giant sets work great, i.e. fly's to failure followed, without rest, by incline bench.

use a spotter and, always, use GREAT form.....

No need to really do that, because it works out different parts of the pectoral muscle. Do both, but because it's hard to find a decline bench around here (why are those rare?) I do dumbell pullovers.

 

[FearoftheNight]

hate to break this to ya but decline bench is waste of time....that is what weighted dips are for...

 

[kindest]

on days i do chest i do bench press and then dumbell bench but i do the dumbell bench balancing on one of those big rubber balls... is this bad

 

[jman19]

I started off with dumbells, actually... went to the barbell bench, and a few months later screwed up my shoulder. I'm not even sure how it happened. I suppose my form sucked but I was going to the gym with guys who had been lifting for years with no problems and they said my form was fine... I dunno. I tend to have more pain when using a barbell now so it's all dumbells for me now when I do chest workouts (that + dips).

 

[purbeast0]

sucks my gym only goes up to 85lb dumbells

i recently switched over my incline presses to barbell because I was doing 3 sets of the 85lbs dumbells, 10 reps, too easily.

now i do strictly barbell for my different bench presses.

 

[paulxcook]

Originally posted by: kindest
on days i do chest i do bench press and then dumbell bench but i do the dumbell bench balancing on one of those big rubber balls... is this bad

I don't know if it is bad, but I don't think it's all that beneficial. To me the hassle of staying balanced would make it not worth it.

 

[conorvansmack]

I'm having nightmares of the ball popping right now. I know it won't, but what if?

 

[Jack Ryan]

Originally posted by: kindest
on days i do chest i do bench press and then dumbell bench but i do the dumbell bench balancing on one of those big rubber balls... is this bad

It definitely isn't bad. I'd say if your goal was straight power, using the swiss ball probably isn't what you want. I personally go for total body fitness and I love the added intensity of doing exercises with the swiss ball, including bench presses.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
sucks my gym only goes up to 85lb dumbells

i recently switched over my incline presses to barbell because I was doing 3 sets of the 85lbs dumbells, 10 reps, too easily.

now i do strictly barbell for my different bench presses.

Ouch My gym goes up to 130.

 

[thespeakerbox]

Bench, IMO, is safer with higher weight. Having to setup for DB bench can be dangerous once the weight goes up and falling back into position. Unless you have a spotter, i'd be worried about developing a rotator cuff injury or worse. With bench , you can load up off the machine, go under, get it done and rack back up.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: brownzilla786
I usually bench if I am working chest/tricep, but once in a while I will do dumbbell bench. Dumbbell bench is a lot harder in my opinion, and I cant lift as much weight as I can when I bench. Are there any pros/cons to each workout? Which exercise will maximize my workout?

i find dumbbell little harder to control. i mean you have to life it from the ground and your hand goes at a weird angle while dropping. seems more injury prone to me.

 

[sash1]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: purbeast0
sucks my gym only goes up to 85lb dumbells

i recently switched over my incline presses to barbell because I was doing 3 sets of the 85lbs dumbells, 10 reps, too easily.

now i do strictly barbell for my different bench presses.

Ouch My gym goes up to 130.

lol i love when gyms have dumbells that weigh more than me

 

[James3shin]

Originally posted by: sash1

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: purbeast0
sucks my gym only goes up to 85lb dumbells

i recently switched over my incline presses to barbell because I was doing 3 sets of the 85lbs dumbells, 10 reps, too easily.

now i do strictly barbell for my different bench presses.

Ouch My gym goes up to 130.

lol i love when gyms have dumbells that weigh more than me

hahaahah.