Bench Dips vs. Parallel Bar Dips

[xucardsfan08]

Which do you prefer, dips done on a bench or parallel bars?

I started doing bench dips more often b/c I can do them in my room (using my bed frame) on days when I can't make it to the gym.

Are there advantages/disadvantages to either (when compared to each other)?

[psychowolverine]

I started out and built my tris off bench dips.. I like doing parallel bar dips better though.

I think the advantage or disadvantage would be that bench dips hit the tris more

[ITHURTZ]

I use bench dips for tris, bars I use to hit the chest

[LiL USMC BBer]

IMO parellel bar dips.

I was only alble to add so much weight to bench dips before it started hurting my shoulders.

[ITHURTZ]

My shoulders are always getting ****ed up and bench dips I have never felt them in shoulders. I currently do 5 45's for 6 reps and feel nothing in the shoulder.

[AlexD3891]

Bench for the tris, Parallel for the chest.

[kennny d]

I found loading of weight for bench dips to be too much of a hassle, even with 135lbs on my lap they felt like nothing

Parallel dips on the other hand are easily my favorite tri exercise

[:::JMANN:::]

parallel bars gets my vote. much more versatile and easier to load weight with a belt. just my thoughts.

[ITHURTZ]

I found loading of weight for bench dips to be too much of a hassle, even with 135lbs on my lap they felt like nothing

Parallel dips on the other hand are easily my favorite tri exercise

My gf loaded and unloaded the 45's for me. 135 is easy, try 225 in 45's. Thats when it starts feeling heavy.

[papi93]

I prefer weighted triceps dips over bench dips. The loading for bench dips can be a pain-in-the-ass. Not to mention it can be uncomfortable loading that weight onto your lap. Placing a dumbbell onto a dip belt is much more convenient and comfortable when doing weighted triceps dips.

[Tallbill]

Another vote for weighted bar dips. Just a pain in the ass to load the weight on a bench dip.

[kennny d]

My gf loaded and unloaded the 45's for me. 135 is easy, try 225 in 45's. Thats when it starts feeling heavy.

I still don't see an advantage of doing them unless you're just looking to try something new for a bit, putting 225on my lap (ouch?) is like the equivalent of doing a parallel bar dip with only 45lbs hanging off of me

[Tyciol]

Hm, they both seem pretty good, like you said, you do both, one at home, the other at the gym when you can access it. Doing full body on the bars seems a bit cooler since you're stabilizing yourself above the ground just using your arms, as opposed to having your feet on the ground, but bench-dips with feet on the ground exert force in a unique and different angle, and it is something we sometimes have to do in real life.

[ITHURTZ]

Feet on floor no way, arms on one bench, feet up on another!

[jgreystoke]

Bench dips put your hands behind your back. This puts your shoulders in a very vulnerable position. This is why you handcuff people behind their backs. You can dislocate a huge guys shoulder very easily when his hands are in this position.

Parallel bar dips have your hands naturally at your sides. The poundage potential is greater, the range of motion is bigger, it is safer.

They're your shoulders.

[papi93]

Bench dips put your hands behind your back. This puts your shoulders in a very vulnerable position. This is why you handcuff people behind their backs. You can dislocate a huge guys shoulder very easily when his hands are in this position.

Parallel bar dips have your hands naturally at your sides. The poundage potential is greater, the range of motion is bigger, it is safer.

They're your shoulders.

Poliquin: "And please, don't resort to the El Geeko version where you put your feet on a bench in front of you and your hands behind you. This exercise, along with Smith machine pressing exercises, is one of the major causes of shoulder impingement syndrome in the bodybuilding community."

[hulkinout]

Poliquin: "And please, don't resort to the El Geeko version where you put your feet on a bench in front of you and your hands behind you. This exercise, along with Smith machine pressing exercises, is one of the major causes of shoulder impingement syndrome in the bodybuilding community."

I remember that quote... :-D

I have to admit I still do bench dips, especially if I've worked chest the same days as tri's; I just won't have the strength to do parallel dips. Eventually, I'm hoping that will change, but for now, this works for me.

[TangerineRavine]

I use bench dips for tris, bars I use to hit the chest

x2. I am aware that having your arms behind you like that impinges the shoulder. But I dunno, even when I go real heavy, and reach failure and sort of just sag down in the middle and try to jettison the weight, my shoulders never feel any real discomfort. I guess they're just flexible or something.

[hawkeye1114]

I would say a good balance of both works best. Every two weeks or so just switch. Also it is much easier to ad weight using parrallel bar vs. bench. just my .02