dumbell bench instead of barbell?

[BigRedCat]

I dont like flat barbell benching too much(mostly cause my GF is my spotter and frankley wouldn't be able to lift the weight if I cannot finish my set)- would I be ok replacing it with flat dumbell presses? I assume I would use less weight at first. I am doing the old school 3 day a week routine so I need to go heavy. I just use dumbells whenever I can(military presses,curls-whatever)...will I still get the same gains as using a barbell? Sorry if this is a dumb question...
As a side note, my old gym had hammer strength machines which are great but not my new gym so...I need an alternative to the barbell bench.

 

[b fold the truth]

First...run a search on this topic...it gets covered at least once a week...

 

[gettinlarger]

If youre afraid of your gf spotting you on barbell bench, why aren't you afraid of her spotting you on db bench ... ? Or ... ask someone else to spot you.

 

[louden_swain]

Believe it or not, but I rarely perform flat press movements. I truly believe that inclines are superior for pectoral development. But to answer your question, use dumbbells or hammer strength.

 

[b fold the truth]

If your workout partner has to be big and strong to spot you on the bench press...then you really need to rethink both the weight that you have on the bar and your routine...

B True

 

[gettinlarger]

If your workout partner has to be big and strong to spot you on the bench press...then you really need to rethink both the weight that you have on the bar and your routine...

B True

Very well put. Now why didn't I say that before ...

 

[BigRedCat]

I dont think I need to re-think the weight I use(I dont use much anyway), it is simply that my 125 pound GF cannot help much with pulling up 225 pounds. I switched to dumbells today, dont really need a spotter for that anyway. I just used the 85 pounders.

 

[brian747478`]

my g/f weighs about 125 and is the only person that spots me. she would never need to pull more than a small amt. to get me to the rack with a weight i use. i think that is something like what bfold is saying, although he never uses a spot, period. a spot can become a crutch.
brian

 

[Daisy_Girl]

Anyone can spot - no matter what their weight. You just have to know HOW to spot CORRECTLY. I am a female and I can spot heavy weight if needed, because I know *how* to spot. You need to teach your GF how to spot correctly. Spotting isn't just standing around waiting for the bar to fall, she has to take an active roll, be aware, and you need to help her do that if you want her to spot you.

It ain't hard to spot any weight when you are communicating with each other. And teaching each other.....

 

[brian747478`]

good point. i have never felt afraid with my g/f spotting me, but she knows how to spot.
brian

 

[Hannibal]

Bench inside a power rack....

 

[brian747478`]

i guess i failed to say i always bench in the power rack, but haven't had to use it while benching. we won't talk about squats, haha.
brian

 

[scruples]

typically a spotter doesn't have to put forth that much effort to help the lifter, even with big weights... unless, of course, that lifter has gone considerably past failure and begins to have the spotter do the majority of the work...

 

[luto199]

i disagree with the statement "a spot can be a crutch", i mean i think this is where you would see the gains. When your on that last rep with a spotter you are pushing really hard and really taxing your chest and tris. If there was no spotter you wouldn't be able to do that last rep, and i think thats where the gains come from.

a spot can become a crutch.

 

[teen1216]

you wouldn't be able to do that last rep, and i think thats where the gains come from.

I disagree that your gains come from a last rep beyond failure.

 

[coolcolj]

Bench inside a power rack....

so you set the pins to stop the bar hitting your body?

 

[luto199]

well really that last rep is the failure rep, its when the bar is about 3-5lbs too heavy and thats what the spotter picks up. But, thats just the way i see it, i tried to think it out logically, what made sense to me.

 

[gettinlarger]

I dont think I need to re-think the weight I use(I dont use much anyway), it is simply that my 125 pound GF cannot help much with pulling up 225 pounds.B]

She's not supposed to help much. When I spot someone, the most I want to help them is with the tips of my index fingers, and vice versa. I hate when someone tries to pull the weight up for me. Forced reps are better done by yourself, my man. But dude, if you're really that paranoid about her, grab a better spotter.

 

[Hannibal]

so you set the pins to stop the bar hitting your body?

Pretty much....you dont want the bar to hit the pins on the way down. You want them set just below where the bar hits your sternum. Then you can just let out your air...and the pins will catch the bar.

 

[brian747478`]

i said a spot can become a crutch, not a spot "is" a crutch. i use one, but never "rely" on one.
brian

 

[hesselite]

Bench inside a power rack....

props.

 

[Haz]

B-fold is right, even a 12 year old girl should be strong enough to spot you, if you are using correct weights. Usually you only need about 5-10 lbs of force to get the weight past your sticking point. That is unless you're totally fried, hurt yourself, or have gone way past your limit. However, I can understand wanting a big burly dude their just in case. I was once spotting someone and the bar slipped out of their hands. It took all my strength to get it off him.

 

[BigRedCat]

I agree that it takes very little force to help with those last few reps but my main reason for a spotter is that I like to work with a weight that allows me to keep my form and still go to failure. If I get half way up on a rep I need someone with a little strength to get the bar up the rest of the way, especially if I am dead from the set. I used to use Hammer Strength machines for benching which allowed me to go to failure without a spotter. I have just been using dumbells and that way when I am close to failure I can drop(or place them rather) them to my side.

 

[gettinlarger]

You don't need to go to failure every set though ... Grab another spotter ...

 

[b fold the truth]

I was in the gym (out of town) and the guy next to me wanted me to hand him the 100's once he was laying down on the flat bench...so he could flat press them. Blows me away... I knew this guy couldn't do them...no freaking way he could move them. So...I picked each up and handed it to him on his chest...and quickly walked away to see the struggle... All he managed to do was drop them...

He was not happy when I picked them up, cleaned them to my shoulders..and used them for overheads...

B True

 

[StRoNg_WoN]

I was in the gym (out of town) and the guy next to me wanted me to hand him the 100's once he was laying down on the flat bench...so he could flat press them. Blows me away... I knew this guy couldn't do them...no freaking way he could move them. So...I picked each up and handed it to him on his chest...and quickly walked away to see the struggle... All he managed to do was drop them...

He was not happy when I picked them up, cleaned them to my shoulders..and used them for overheads...

B True

HAHA! Nice...