View Full Version : DB press vs. bench
What works the chest better, DB press or regular bench press. Should you do them both in the same workout and whats the difference?
More/less stabilizer muscles. Stronger arm can't compensate for the weaker arm with the dumbbells. Use both, mix it up.
jeff00z28
02-28-07, 9:24 pm
I like db better because they don't have that "howmuchya bench"
MassManiac
02-28-07, 9:31 pm
I almost always use DBs because I feel they hit the chest a little bit better. For me, bench press limits my range of motion and tends to hit my front delts more than my chest. With DBs I can get a better stretch at the bottom and a tighter squeeze at the top. It's all preference though.
cubs1987
02-28-07, 9:39 pm
I almost always use DBs because I feel they hit the chest a little bit better. For me, bench press limits my range of motion and tends to hit my front delts more than my chest. With DBs I can get a better stretch at the bottom and a tighter squeeze at the top. It's all preference though.
i totally agree with this...i used to just do regular bench before i knew anything, but now my front delts are much stronger than my chest, and I've been trying to correct that for sometime. I prefer DB's.
OldeIron
02-28-07, 9:42 pm
I almost always use DBs because I feel they hit the chest a little bit better. For me, bench press limits my range of motion and tends to hit my front delts more than my chest. With DBs I can get a better stretch at the bottom and a tighter squeeze at the top. It's all preference though.
I agree with this as well personally. Right now I do both in my workout. I start with DB and then 3rd or 4th (depending on how much i do that day) ill do BB.
I start with barbell bench and make sure my shoulder blades are pinched together so my chest is puffed out. I do it first to go nice and heavy for 4 x 6 usually. I do 2 or 3 sets of dumbbell flat later in the workout as well for 8-10 reps, trying to get that good stretch at the bottom and squeeze at the top. I promote using both obviously.
eatNlift
02-28-07, 10:35 pm
DB feel on me few times duo to my small weak wrist and flat benching gave me shoulder problems so im good rite now with incline BB. incline to grow.
More/less stabilizer muscles. Stronger arm can't compensate for the weaker arm with the dumbbells. Use both, mix it up.
I agree with NickSP on this one. Barbell bench gives you the power and mass adder. Dumbells give you a better range of motion with the press. Its good to always mix them up and put them together on the same day, but make sure you make one flat/incline and the other incline/flat/decline. Hope everything goes well with the presses.
-SiSu
saint of the gym
02-28-07, 11:33 pm
I usually hit the DB about twice as often as i do the bench... The Bench press kills my shoulder. for some reason i dont get as much pain from the DB. I also like the development i do get from DB... Incline DB and Bench are by far the best chest builders though
I almost always use DBs because I feel they hit the chest a little bit better. For me, bench press limits my range of motion and tends to hit my front delts more than my chest. With DBs I can get a better stretch at the bottom and a tighter squeeze at the top. It's all preference though.
I agree too. To add to that... I never do the 2 in the same workout. If I do flat dumbbells, I'll do incline BB press. If I do flat bench, I'll do incline dumbbells. I also try to switch flat/incline movements for the first exercise every week.
born0withno0soul
03-01-07, 1:39 am
i use both 50,50. barbells and dumbbells both have their equal placing in our workouts. change it up. but to me, its harder on my shouders to put up dumbbells, especially without a spotter. i have actually had my shoulder give out on me during a dumbell press and i dropped the weight. be careful. people say they get more pain from barbells, and i get some pain too. but i blame the weak joints on dumbbells. i may be wrong.
the Force
03-01-07, 2:07 am
i always do both every chest workout. I alternate which i start with. I had a very serious shoulder injury and i promise you that DB is much easier on the joints as it allows you a better ROM. I HATE when people drop their weights, but if you're using DBs its alot easier to get rid of the weight if you start screwing up. Plus alot of places have rubber floors and weights so its okay to just let them go instead of worrying about how to get them off your chest.
Do a diffrent one on an incline on each workout really great to put some meat on that chest and shape it at the same time.