Barbell vs Dumbell on Press

[Mindwraith]

But then again if the bar is too heavy and you can't rack it, your head might be lopped off by the bar lol.

 

[solidj55]

But then again if the bar is too heavy and you can't rack it, your head might be lopped off by the bar lol.

Very true. I like both BB and DB exercises but in my opinion neither are really "safe" when lifitng without a spotter. But if I had to choose what to do when lifting alone I personally would pick dumbells. For myself I can push myself harder with dumbells than I can with BB when lifting alone. But thats just me. And also, about the heavier weight thing. I agree with what Fatty4You said, my babell and dumbell strengths are completely different. Take for example on my bench press, when I was at my strongest I could bench 300 for 6 reps, 315 for 4 reps, drop down and hit 275 for 8 to 10 reps, drop down again to 225 and hit that for 20+ reps all with about 5 minutes rest between sets.
I also hit a 365 single in a bench press meet. I remember the week after I did this workout I decided to do some dumbells instead. I did 3 sets of 8 with the 85's and that was just about to failure on the 8th rep on every set. Thats pretty damn sad when compared to what I could do with the barbell. But having said that, in my opinion for the best functional exercise as well as the best exercise to hit the muscle I would say use dumbells. This is not gospel just one mans opinion. I have been using dumbells mixed with bodyweight exercises only for my upper body for the last 12 weeks. I have never felt tighter and looked better. But everyone is different.

 

[ThePolishHammer]

Why Dumbells?: larger range of motion, work stabalizer muscles, create more balance and symetry

 

[solidj55]

Why Dumbells?: larger range of motion, work stabalizer muscles, create more balance and symetry

I believe you like dumbells as much as me!?!?

 

[ThePolishHammer]

heh, from your posts, yeah. Sounds like it.
Im a big dumbell fan, especially when im trying to put on mass.

 

[Madd Hatter]

Here's a question: is there a formula or rough estimate one can use to translate db weight to bb weight and vice versa? i.e. if I'm benching 80's that would be equal to x bb, or if i'm benching 180 bb that would be equal to using the x's.

 

[Mindwraith]

Today I switched to the barbell on press (except for flys of course). I'll be doing the barbell for the next few weeks to see if I can find a difference or notice any growth. I'm expecting that since this is a change in my workout I should see some growth regardless since I might be hitting different muscles.

I normally do 2 75's on 5x5 thats 150 lbs

For barbell I had a harder time for some reason, I started with 90 lbs to test, then I added another 35 lbs throughout the 5 sets. This only adds up to 125 but then again I'm not counting the bar. I'm going to start at 125 and move up to 150 next week, I'm betting I can do it just as easily as I did today.

 

[zackdarnell]

I'm not counting the bar.

Why not? You lift the bar, so count the bar.

 

[Mindwraith]

lol didn't realize people counted the bar. Main reason I dont count is because I'm clueless as to what it weighs.

 

[zackdarnell]

lol didn't realize people counted the bar. Main reason I dont count is because I'm clueless as to what it weighs.

If you lift it, count it. Most 7' long olympic bars weigh 45 lbs.