Switched from DB to Barbell bench press, didn't go well

[VaiKing]

My gym doesn't have any dumbbells heavier than 100lbs, so because of that, my DB bench press progress came to an halt recently. So today, I decided that it was time for me to go back to BB bench press.

Results were terrible...i barely managed to do 3x8 with 165lbs, and at the end, my shoulders were aching terribly.

Is the weight difference normal? I really thought that 200lbs press with DB would translate into at least 180-185 on bench press...not even close

discuss

[joebrosef]

maybe your form is off?

[Tyciol]

Maybe you were doing hammer grip or something and aren't used to how the overhand grip makes the elbows come out?

[VaiKing]

maybe your form is off?

most likely T_T

[GruntFunk]

Really? For most it's the other way around. 200lbs DB press would turn into at least 225 BB press.

Maybe you need to re-introduce yourself to the BB, nicely.

[Tyciol]

This would make more sense if you were forgetting to count the 45lbs the bar often weighs. But the 165 makes me think it's 60 per side.

[nebnar]

just a suggestion, take it as you will.


If you have a cable set up at your gym then you can in a sense add to your Db bench.

Get some ankle straps put em on your wrists, roll a bench to the cable area, and you can keep adding weight in a sense. similar to chains for BB.

I started doing these 2 weeks ago and the resistance at the top is sick!

[alexb650]

If you haven't been doing bb at all, it should be expected. I'm willing to bet you'll be at 200 or more in a month or so.