dumbbell or barbell benchpress

[demmel]

Hi,

I have been wondering for years what the pros and cons for dumbbell over barbell benchpress are. I realize that the barbell benchpress allows you to work more weight whereas the dumbbell benchpress uses a higher range of motion, works more equally both sides and probably uses more stabilizing muscles.

1) what do you think?
2) which one do you prefer?
3) Can you gain more mass by doing on or the other?

4)..... whatever else comes to your mind.

[psychowolverine]

If you could only do one for some bizarre reason, DBs would be the way to go, but I love my BB bench and will never give it up. I think you should be doing both.. Use the BB to push the big weights and increase your strength, while the DBs will assist in development and stability.

Not saying Dbs wont increase strength, but obviously you cannot DB press as much as you BB press.

[Mr. Manlet]

well everything you mentioned is pretty much true

as for the questions i like DB due to the fact my left pec is weaker so i like how i cant really cheat myself..i find DB has helped me even out my left..not all the way there though =/

and yea i would say you can build strength..in a year ive gained 30 lbs on both sides..decent strength i would hope

best of luck

[crofty22]

Do Both

[AFIrensde]

i agree with above poster, do both.

db for stability, muscle recruitment, balance etc.
and bb for heavier wieghts.

[Hulston Prickle]

I do both, but I lean towards DBs for chest.

That said, I did a set of 50 pound DBs (one in each hand) for 5 reps last night. It's a new high for me and I'm over the moon about it, even if I know it's small potatoes for some of you.

[jmusclehead]

I do both, but, usually like db's better because of the free ROM.

[klen]

Do Both

Agreed

[AphtaLyfe]

I always start every chest day with barbell.. 3 x 10... then move onto dumbbell bench 3 x 10.

[BaSsSiKk]

BOTH, sorry to be of no help but it's fact lol

[bluerider450]

Definately utilize the bar and dumbells. I injured my left shoulder and found that DB's were much more tolerable than the BB. After awhile I started to go pretty heave with them and when my shoulder was well enough I went back to the barbell and my max had gone up quite a bit. I also noticed that DB's helped me to add more mass to my lower pecs. Today I use both in my chest workouts.

[HoosierBoy]

I've found DBs to be far superior for strength gains.

[MaximumTaxation]

I prefer dumbells over the barbell, but I also don't focus on flat pressing with either. I do incline the majority of the time, and I not only get a better ROM, but I can squeeze the upper chest much better with dumbells.

[Juggernaut33]

I use both as well. My typical chest day is flatbench barbell presses, incline dumbell presses and flatbench flyes.

[Etienne]

For a lack of a spotter, I did only DB BPs for the first year of training - only recently started going BB BPs and to this day I can still BP more with the DBs for some reason.

[mAssholio]

I do flat barbell and incline DB

[Zepphire]

I prefer dumbells over the barbell, but I also don't focus on flat pressing with either. I do incline the majority of the time, and I not only get a better ROM, but I can squeeze the upper chest much better with dumbells.

your lat insertions are insanely low

[DoubleC]

I've found DBs to be far superior for strength gains.

x2

[Drakeprimeone]

Ive read in Muscle and Fitness Mag that doing dumb bells are preferable on a decline bench press while barbells are the way to go for flat and incline benching. I cant remember the details or why, I'll have to dig through back issues to find it again.

My chest days include
Incline Bench - Smith Machine, low reps and heavy weight for strenth
Flat Bench - Free weight BB, higher reps and moderate weight to work on pump and form.
Decline Bench - Free weight DB, pyramid style weight and reps.

[Tyciol]

Barbells offer, besides the increased weight (or perhaps the cause of it), unique things that dumbbells do not. If you attempt to pull dumbbells apart, they'll fall to the sides and if you can't do a pec fly, you'd better drop em or you get injured. If you attempt to pull the dumbbells together, they'll just come together and alter your arm angles and probably clank togehter and skid off each other unless they have flat sides.

But you can try to crush a barbell together or pull it apart and it won't budge, but it will alter the muscles you're using to press a great deal.

Presumably, pushing it together would be more chesty, pulling it apart more tricepy.