When you do incline bench presses which do you prefer; barbell or dumbell? Why?
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02-22-2010, 04:31 PM #1
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02-22-2010, 04:33 PM #2
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02-22-2010, 04:35 PM #3
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02-22-2010, 04:36 PM #4
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02-22-2010, 04:40 PM #5
I use DBs and have for years, but that doesn't mean they are better for you. Some people seem to be suited more for BB presses (e.g. Arnold S), some for DBs.
If I had to make a generalization, "stockier" people seem to gravitate toward DBs, "rangier" to BBs. But, that is still a generalization.
Use what works.
In all cases.CSCS, ACSM cPT.
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02-22-2010, 04:43 PM #6
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02-22-2010, 06:50 PM #7
- Join Date: Apr 2003
- Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
- Age: 68
- Posts: 2,732
- Rep Power: 5839
I don't use either a lot lately... I tend to gravitate towards the Hammer Strength incline machine because I found that although I like dumbbells I can also tend to get hurt when trying to get them up by myself. I like the Hammer Strength machines because they tend to guide the pecs in the natural motion of how the pecs should press a weight. Barbells force a pushing movement when in reality the pecs are meant to bring the arms together, typical from what you would feel from a flye motion exercise. If fact, at times I feel flyes can be as an effective pec builder as presses themselves.
Dumbbells can also be made to mimic this motion but as I said, I have floundered a few times with heavy dumbbells and at this point in my life I care less about how much weight I put on compared to trying to keep myself injury free.Holder of 4 National NPC Weight Class Titles in 4 different weight classes... all with perfect scores
1998 NPC USA Bantamweight
2003 NPC Masters National Lightweight (over 40)
2006 NPC Masters National Welterweight (over 40)
2006 NPC Masters National Middleweight (over 50)
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02-22-2010, 07:45 PM #8
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02-22-2010, 09:11 PM #9
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02-22-2010, 09:16 PM #10
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02-22-2010, 11:39 PM #11
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02-23-2010, 02:55 AM #12
- Join Date: May 2006
- Location: Lake Worth, Florida, United States
- Age: 52
- Posts: 1,611
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DB's...almost anytime I can use them I do. I feel I get greater range of motion, better overall strengthening and the ability to clear weights if I get stuck safer.
My shoulders definitely feel it on a barbell time to time as well and that can't be good over time.
The limiting factor for many is too many gyms cut off the dumbbells around 80lbs. My gym goes to the mid 100's with 5lbs for most of the way and a couple magnets for 2.5 and 5lbs available.
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02-23-2010, 05:01 AM #13
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02-23-2010, 05:21 AM #14
I only wish I could use the hammer strength machine, unfortunately they are not made with people as tall as me in mind they compress the holy **** out of my shoulders. As for the fly comment, it is funny my uncle is 78 now and competed for years, was well known around here for a huge chest and back, has always preached heavy flies for pec development over pressing movements. I sort of listen, while I do heavy flies, got 65s last night for 9, I should probably do more of them and less presses.(MM just confirmed it) My wing span is very large so it leave my shoulders a bit more vulnerable during presses, however, for some reason flies do not bother me at all. Even when I PLed in my younger days bench was so far behind my squat and DL that it held back any real shot I had at being a top shelf PLer, well that and I was so young I did not have enough commitment to the work or drive as I do now.
Excuses are like A-holes everyone's got 1...............
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02-23-2010, 06:00 AM #15
- Join Date: May 2009
- Location: East Greenville, Pennsylvania, United States
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Oh man, I am glad to hear you say that. I use dbs, my gym doesn't have a Hammer Strength incline machine. But I struggle to get the heavy dbs into place. I thought maybe it was just me. That said, I like them better than the bb. And I do flat flyes also in chest day...I actually feel the "squeeze" more when I do these than the db bench.
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02-23-2010, 06:05 AM #16
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02-23-2010, 06:47 AM #17
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02-23-2010, 08:23 AM #18
- Join Date: Apr 2003
- Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
- Age: 68
- Posts: 2,732
- Rep Power: 5839
Although I not a big fan of super setting I have also found that the best finishing exercise for me is doing moderate weight flyes with DB and super set them with DB presses. Many times your triceps will tend to give out during a pressing exercise before your stronger pec muscles do. By doing flyes first it prefatigues your pecs, which do not involve the triceps at all, and when you finish up with the presses the pecs will fail long before the triceps do.
When I had a pinched nerve in my neck and lost most of the strength and size in my left tricep I could keep some of my chest strength and size maintained by doing only flyes since they did not really involve the triceps. As I mentioned in an earlier post the pec muscles are designed to bring the arms together and not to press weight away from the body like most presses have you doing. Working the muscle in the way the insertition points work can lead to better chest development IMHO.
nuff said...Holder of 4 National NPC Weight Class Titles in 4 different weight classes... all with perfect scores
1998 NPC USA Bantamweight
2003 NPC Masters National Lightweight (over 40)
2006 NPC Masters National Welterweight (over 40)
2006 NPC Masters National Middleweight (over 50)
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02-23-2010, 09:11 AM #19
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02-23-2010, 09:19 AM #20
The dumbells at my gym only go up to 85lbs.
So, I'm pretty much forced to use the barbell for the most part.
When I do drop sets (especially double drop sets) I like to drop down to dumbells the final stage.Every day counts.
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I has a PHmuthaf'nD in Broscience!
ntrllftr > azstrengthlosscouchpotato
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02-23-2010, 09:24 AM #21
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02-23-2010, 09:51 AM #22
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02-24-2010, 07:48 PM #23
Look into power hooks. The only thing is you would tie up a rack for a bit and that may hit the "you know what I saw someone doing the rack today" threads. I am lucky and have my own. There is no way with my bad shoulder that I could get the 100's into place, I almost hurt myself getting them on my knees for db seated calf raises The hooks make it a lot easier on the shoulders and core.
Do it or Don't do it, There is no try
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02-24-2010, 10:45 PM #24
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02-24-2010, 11:54 PM #25
I was completely unaware of that , I actually thought the pecs were for "pushing".
It makes sense though. Ive always done some sort of fly ( usually db or pec dec ) ... will have to add more flies in and see what happens !
Ive been doing incline DB flies in my routine to bring up my upper chest after I do flat and incline DB press ... any suggestiong to help me with that ??? Im all ears !!!
edit : tried to rep ya MM , have to get you tomorrowLast edited by *STEVE*; 02-24-2010 at 11:57 PM.
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02-25-2010, 04:36 AM #26
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02-25-2010, 05:12 AM #27
I used to work out with PLers and one of them(an old timer) had his own DB made up and in his bag, he would use plates on it and do presses 1 arm with a metric fckton of weight. That was many moons ago in a gym far far away, I miss that gym could use all the chalk you wanted and scream as loud as you can........
Excuses are like A-holes everyone's got 1...............
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