I'm kinda new to lifting and I can't figure out why I can bench so much more than I can dumbbell bench. It's easier for me to bench press 150 than it is to do two 50 pound dumbbells.
I'm kinda new to lifting and I can't figure out why I can bench so much more than I can dumbbell bench. It's easier for me to bench press 150 than it is to do two 50 pound dumbbells.
because you are asymmetric.
when you use a bar the strong arm helps the weaker arm; this doesn't happen with barbells.
cheers.
It's different for different people. I did dumbbells for years before every doing barbell bench and for me it's almost the same. I can do 4 reps with the 125 lb dumbbells, the heaviest my gym has, and maybe 6 reps with 250 lbs barbell, maybe fewer if I don't bounce it off my chest (which you can't do with dumbbells). For most guys dumbbell is a lot harder. I'm like the strongest dumbbell bencher in my gym, but there are a number of guys who can barbell bench a lot more.
cotton shirt wrote:
because you are asymmetric.
when you use a bar the strong arm helps the weaker arm; this doesn't happen with barbells.
cheers.
I don't think this is true for me. I have tried to see if I can lift heavier dumbbells with one arm or another and I can't.
A bar is inherently pretty stable in the lateral plane. It's only in the vertical plane that you have to work to keep it straight. This means you can use a higher percentage of your strength to lift the weight when you're pressing the bar.
As you approach your maximum force production, your coordination and ability to move smoothly and in control decreases, which is why you have to keep the load a little lower with bells.
I feel ya mate...I struggle a lot with the dumbells strictly because it is difficult for me to lift them up and then lean back onto the bench. What I find doing best for me is incorporating dumbells at the end of my chest routine. So I might do bench press followed by push ups, followed by dumbell bench. That way I might only be using 50lb dumbells, but since I've done other chest exercises it is a good way to finish up!
new lifter wrote:
I'm kinda new to lifting and I can't figure out why I can bench so much more than I can dumbbell bench. It's easier for me to bench press 150 than it is to do two 50 pound dumbbells.
You have to use more stabilizing muscles when you use dumbbells, which decreases your ability to lift the larger weight. The bar for the bench press does not require as many stabilizing muscles, so you can concentrate all of your force on the press.
800 dude wrote:
A bar is inherently pretty stable in the lateral plane. It's only in the vertical plane that you have to work to keep it straight. This means you can use a higher percentage of your strength to lift the weight when you're pressing the bar.
As you approach your maximum force production, your coordination and ability to move smoothly and in control decreases, which is why you have to keep the load a little lower with bells.
This is very interesting. So would that mean that doing dumbbells is a waste since and I should just focus on bench? I'm trying to get stronger, not more coordinated.
new lifter wrote:
This is very interesting. So would that mean that doing dumbbells is a waste since and I should just focus on bench? I'm trying to get stronger, not more coordinated.
It isn't about coordination. It is about stability. The stronger you get the more stable you will be. So, no doing dumbbells is not a waste of time. You will be activating more muscles doing dumbbells. Continue to use both.
new lifter wrote:
This is very interesting. So would that mean that doing dumbbells is a waste since and I should just focus on bench? I'm trying to get stronger, not more coordinated.
I'm far from a strength training expert (though I've read the classic texts). My understanding is that you will have superior strength gains using the bar. When you do things to make yourself unstable (pressing bells instead of the bar, using a stability ball instead of a bench, etc.), it's been shown that strength gains are reduced. That doesn't mean it's a waste though. You can still get huge using just the bells. Plus you can get a very good core workout at the same time. You're less likely to cheat with your form using the bells. And with the bells you can go to failure without a spotter.
An advantage of using dumbbells is that it lets your shoulders find a good angle to avoid stress. I saw Trey Hardee's strength coach talking about this and say they only do dumbbell bench presses because all the throwing and stuff is always putting stress on the shoulders.
The only reason to do barbell bench is to get better at barbell benching. And I do want to give a good answer to "how much ya bench?", so I do barbell bench.