Proper bar width for dips

[Lazarus52980]

Is there a measure on a persons body to determine the correct distance between the two bars for dips? As has become common for me in this forum, I am asking to help my son with his workouts. We have found a way to do everything else we want to do right now, but not dips (since my standing dip stand is too wide...). I am going to either build or buy one, but I need a better understanding of how wide to put the bars...

Help please!

 

[tedrodai]

I was sortof wondering the same recently, because I was considering making some for myself.

I would use 2 chairs to find a comfortable width range for him. Support the chairs so they don't slide away from his body (1 against wall, you supporting the other--something like that), and he can bend at the knees to get off the ground. He'll probably be comfortable at shoulder width or + an inch or so to each side.

 

[blackdogdeek]

as a total layperson i would guess shoulder width would be ideal because wider would start to employ lats for stability and narrower would start to employ delts for stability.

i agree with tedrodai's chair suggestion to get a starting frame of reference.