Dumbells vs. Barbell
 

What do you think is better for building mass and strength?


Berz out.

i think barbell because you can put significantly more power into it since you arent working as hard to keep it up and ballanced.

Depends on the exercise.

Barbell is better for your stability, so other muscles that control your stability will also be developed at the same time.

If you do bench presses with dumbells and a barbell, you'll totally feel the difference. With dumbells, it will focus directly with the muscle group, i guess in this case, your chest. When you do the exact same weights but with a barbell, you'll also feel your muscles in your back and sides doing work while you're trying to balance the barbell perfectly.

At least this what i have noticed.

I think you're getting the two mixed up

I don't think i got the two mixed up...well, i hope not at least. I find it more challenging forcing my arms to be completely level with a dumbell than pressing two identical weights on each arm....but thats probably just me. Especially when the weights are really far off to your sides as well.

I don't know, I get the opposite. I find it more difficult pressing a barbell to be leveled on each arm than when I press with dumbbells.

Everyone's different though.

definately barbell for size and strength.

Barbell > dumbbells in almost every conceivable way
the strength gains from barbell cleans, barbell bench, and barbell squat are superior to dumbbells

however, i do like certain dumbbell presses with one arm to work the weaker arm

i do 27* incline dumbell presses and flat barbell bench press

i do 85* dumbell shoulder presses and 70* barbell shoulder presses

Barbell better for mass and strength.

Dumbells better for stabilizers, ROM, and core.

GL

I find that using dumbells gives me a way better burn and I can really rep out with them (I dont always have a spotter) I also find it easier to "cheat" using a barbell as you can recruit other muscles to help push up.

I actually haven't benched heavy with a Barbell in a long time......

Berz out.

either one can add mass or strength...

ya people cheat with there back all the time, like arch it big time. also i love when people bounce the weight off there chest. anyone can do a ton of weight by bouncing it off there chest

I've mainly done dumbell presses for chest since I've started working out. I might have done the barbell a handful of times. I find the barbell more uncomfortable for some reason. Plus I workout alone so the dumbell is more safe since I can drop the weights on the side.

My dumbell press is currently @ 100s (200 combined).

Dammit I need a better gym, dumbells only go up to 75 lbs at home :(

you workout at home ? is it hard to get motivated

Not literally at home, just a small gym at the clubhouse where I live. It's not hard to get motivated at all, because it takes me 5 minutes to prepare and get down to the gym every other day.

Granted, I have been getting like 4-6 hours of sleep all week, so haven't been there since last Wednesday :(

dumbells will work your stabilzer muscles as well, comes to personal preference

Well, if it works for your situation then cool.

In general, barbells are better for strenght/mass due to the fact you don't have to worry about stabilizing the weight as much as dumbells and you can cheat if you want to use heavier weight.

It would be good to switch it up though unless you have an injury.

different people respond differently to each exercise.

for me personally i gain strength and mass much more quickly when I use dumbells for my pressing movements. But Im a fairly strong guy and unfortunately most gyms dont have heavy enough dumbells for me to go into the low rep range that I need to. So I switch to barbell for my heavy sets.

its all about trial and error and what you personally respond best to.

holy crap man. how much do you bench press?


I bench 2 plates each side in the 8-10 rep range without a spotter. For dumbells, i do 85's.

i did dumbell bench press tonight and my shoulders kill for some reason

barbell: because you can put more weight on a barbell then on a dumbell.

^ Lol...