I find I get a better contraction with dumbbells as I can really focus on that one muscle
Which do you prefer or do you use both?
|
Thread: Dumbbell Curls vs Barbell Curls
-
05-21-2011, 05:27 AM #1
-
05-21-2011, 05:53 AM #2
-
05-21-2011, 06:12 AM #3
-
05-21-2011, 06:16 AM #4
-
-
05-21-2011, 06:18 AM #5
- Join Date: Dec 2010
- Location: North Carolina, United States
- Age: 37
- Posts: 418
- Rep Power: 261
-
05-21-2011, 07:47 AM #6
- Join Date: Aug 2010
- Location: Georgia, United States
- Age: 50
- Posts: 292
- Rep Power: 223
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=471725
Link to EMG studies showing which muscles were stimulated most by which exercises. For bi's the top 3 were BB Preachers, Incline DB's and standing BB Curls..."You can map out a fight plan or a life plan, but when the action starts, it may not go the way you planned, and you're down to your reflexes - that means your preparation. That's where your roadwork shows. If you cheated on that in the dark of the morning, well, you're going to get found out now, under the bright lights." — Joe Frazier
-
05-21-2011, 08:09 AM #7
-
05-21-2011, 09:03 AM #8
-
-
05-21-2011, 12:44 PM #9
Dumbells give you more flexiblity in finding a grip and bar path that suits you compared to barbells. They require more effort to stablize and can be worked one arm at at time. They also can have increased range of motion compared to the barbell for some.
Its also not possible for the weaker arm to be carried by the stronger as it the case with barbell movements. Also if you want to develop to your fullest you can use more weight on your dominant arm and develop its strength faster than if you were limited to what your right and left can handle together on a barbell.
Dumbells also allow you to supinate the curl and work supination ability. I do kind of dig one arm barbell curls though as a variety move from dumbells. I do them with the grip4orce stiff flex on there to make them harder. I do not unevenly load the bar to work supination as much on these just yet but thats another way to make dumbell movements harder.MyMuscles.com
Features weight lifting terminology, equipment info, essays, and links.
-
05-21-2011, 01:01 PM #10
Er, unless you're holding the weight offset, I don't think a properly centered/balanced dumbbell is going to provide any notable rotational resistance to work the supination ability.
This would sort of be like doing a dumbbell front raise and then bringing the DBs out to the sides. Sure, the change in position will subtly shift the stress from the anterior to the lateral head of the deltoid, but you're not going to put much stress on your posterior deltoid as a transverse extensor even though the movement emulates that of a bent-over lateral raise, simply because it's not being resisted by anything except inertia.
If you want to work supination ability, you can use things like adjustible DB/bars with only one side weighted, or maybe if you're curling/supinaton a kettlebell, or sledgehammers.
-
05-21-2011, 01:13 PM #11
-
05-21-2011, 01:15 PM #12
-
-
05-21-2011, 01:29 PM #13
-
05-21-2011, 05:07 PM #14
-
05-21-2011, 05:09 PM #15
-
05-21-2011, 06:27 PM #16
If you work your dominant and weaker arm to maximum potential with dumbell weights one arm is not going to get dramatically stronger than the other. The gap in strength will narrow in time. Some will want to develop one arm more than the other if its possible and get strength gains they can get. This is possible with dumbells and not barbells and is a possible benefit for some. Why half ass work your right arm so it can equal your left. People have no issue with using barbells that can allow the dominant arm to take over.
True without offeset grip or loading plates more on one side the supination function is worked
in a real minor way with dumbells over barbells. But dumbells allow you to do hammer curls that you can not do with regular straight bars as easily. For supination function I use a 28 inch handle with weight on the end do supination moves, and try to curl it holding it level also. Its very tough. If you truly wish to work supination ability you probably need to do it bent arm to work mostly biceps and straight arm to work mainly the forearm supinator muscles. but thats beyond what the poster is asking about.MyMuscles.com
Features weight lifting terminology, equipment info, essays, and links.
-
-
05-21-2011, 10:17 PM #17
-
05-21-2011, 10:50 PM #18
-
05-22-2011, 02:31 AM #19
-
05-22-2011, 05:29 AM #20
I use an EZ bar for curls (i don't really get the "proper positioning" of my hands right with barbells they are either to far apart which hurts my wrist or to close together and i can't get my arms up properly with my palms facing upwards). I use Dumbbells for hammer- (obviously ;P) and concentration curls.
-
-
01-19-2013, 01:03 PM #21
- Join Date: May 2010
- Location: Manchester, England, United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Posts: 18,107
- Rep Power: 14561
Old thread I know but, these threads always come up in Google searches and there's no point starting another one just for this.
Personally I could never do curls with a straight bar, too much strain on my wrists (cue the masturbation jokes), it has to be the EZ bar for me.
I only do those because it is inconvenient to do DB curls, but I am sure DB has to be better.
DB curls = bicep.
Bar curls = bicep... but surely the abs, pecs and delts are all helping when its a bar? At least it seems that way.
Never seen Arnie lifting a bar that way, although I am not saying he never did, I just don't recall him doing curls with a bar, it was always DB's.
Then again what worked for Arnie won't necessarily work for everyone.u wot m1.68179283050742908606225095246644152â´
-
01-19-2013, 01:04 PM #22
-
01-19-2013, 10:32 PM #23
-
01-19-2013, 10:36 PM #24
-
-
01-20-2013, 12:36 AM #25
-
01-20-2013, 01:11 AM #26
-
01-20-2013, 07:27 AM #27
-
01-20-2013, 08:10 AM #28
My elbows lock up on barbell due to tendonitis or something, they are a non-option for me.
-Crohn's Disease crew
-Strict limited diet crew
-Gluten Free Crew
Starting weight 114.
My journal: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=140012233
Oil cleanse your face: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=156983633&pagenumber=
-
-
01-20-2013, 08:43 AM #29
-Barbell Cheat Curls (105% of 1RM)
-Incline Dumbbell Curls (75-85% of 1RM)
-Overhand Spider Curls w/EZ Bar (Loading is variable)
Plus your typical heavy back work (deadlifts, pullups, chins, rows).
Most of the guys I see curling at the gym are too busy chasing a pump and trying to work their arms from various "angles", instead of focusing on having great form/tempo and moving some weight. Not surprisingly, they wander through life with 13" arms. For what it's worth, my arms have never grown by curling anything that was light enough to complete more than 5 or 6 reps with great form and a methodical tempo.
To answer your question, I use both the straight bar and EZ bar for their respective exercises, as well as dumbbells. But what works best is not necessarily what you can "feel" the most. A lot of people focus on the contraction, which is fine I suppose. Is it an indicator of effectiveness? Not particularly. If you're consistently gaining strength, and the tape measure shows growth, then you're doing something right. For me, I don't feel a pump or contraction from doing cheat curls with a straight barbell. But nothing on this Earth has ever been as effective for gaining size and strength in my biceps."Nice TAPOUT shirt, you must kick so much ass."
President/CEO: The People's Coalition Against Gym Hissing
Chairman: Advocates for the Dissolution of the Flat-Brimmed Ballcap Fad
S: 325
B: 285
D: 405
-
01-22-2013, 02:22 AM #30
Similar Threads
-
pronated dumbbell curls vs supinated dumbbell curls
By theronin391 in forum ExercisesReplies: 14Last Post: 01-05-2016, 03:03 PM -
Dumbbell and EZ bar curls - which to do first?
By LeanNate in forum ExercisesReplies: 15Last Post: 12-14-2010, 11:45 PM -
Any reason to do both Dumbbell Bicep Curls and Concentration Curls?
By vocaro in forum ExercisesReplies: 6Last Post: 05-11-2010, 09:29 AM -
Dumbbell equivalent of reverse barbell curls?
By ch2s in forum ExercisesReplies: 7Last Post: 01-17-2009, 02:38 AM -
One-arm dumbbell curls and one arm dumbbell presses?
By rast in forum ExercisesReplies: 3Last Post: 06-07-2008, 11:51 PM
Bookmarks