How many of you guys actually use dumbells in their routine. I almost never use them. It's just hard to get them in place. how the hell do you have to get the DB's in place with dumbell bench presses? and it also takes twice as long the load them [img]smile.gif[/img]
Haven't touched a bench press barbell In almost 8 weeks now. Doing all dumbell work...If your doing incline press with dumbell use your knees to kick them up to you. I haven't done heavy one's with a flat press so I'm not sure how that would work.
Use power hooks to get them into position if you don't have a spotter to lift them into place for you (or kick them into place like some of the other guys said).
Personally, I use the fixed-weight dumbbells at the gym so I don't have to change weights for dumbbells - the disadvantage at the gym I usually go to is the dumbbells only go to 50lbs, so I have to use barbell above that.
What is this bullshit about having a spotter lift the dumbbells for oneself into position because one isn't strong enough to hold onto them and press them up. Just get pissed off at something and do the damn thing. Get momentum as you're laying back and explode with that first rep and get those weights in the air and the first rep out of the way.
This reminds me of an old school Arnie story of when he was lifting in this shack of a gym in germany and had no incline bench (is he really going there with the old school arnold crap?, yes, yes i am). They leaned a board against the wall, power cleaned the weight, and fell back against the board and began. Those are some incline presses for you.
I lift them up onto my hips and situp with them resting on my chest. As I lay back I pull them into my chest so that when I'm lying down they're basically resting on my chest where I want them to be.
I normally love to use db's, but lately I have been doing bench press with a 2" block on my chest to limit my range of motion to keep my chest strong, which I cannot do with db's.
In answer to the original question, you need to sit at the edge of the bench with the db's on standing on your knees. Kick them up one at a time as you lie back. They sort of "fall" into position. Press from there. You don't need a rack. That's the nice thing about DB's... you can drop them to the side if you get stuck. If you can't get into position to start your lift, its probably too heavy for you to be messing with anyway.
I like DB's... it just feels like I get a better workout. I struggle a little getting 70lb DB's into position for the incline bench press though. [img]redface.gif[/img] Like others have said, I start with them on my knees and kind of kick them up as I start to lay back.
I find if you kick them up with your knees at the same time, it is more balanced, at least for me...
If I press over 100lb DB's (which is rare), I try to have 2 people help me get them in position as you can get pretty tired just working them into a pressing position.
Has anyone used the powerhooks for DB's that hang off a supported bar?
Oh one more thing... I workout with my wife and sometimes my daughter comes along... so when we use a bar we spent extra time changing the weights in and out for all 3 of us which is kind of a pain.
Do you all think there is a difference in strength and/or hypertrophy gains as compared to a barbell press versus dumbbell press? As we are able to handle a larger load when using a barbell?
Originally posted by Rev: Do you all think there is a difference in strength and/or hypertrophy gains as compared to a barbell press versus dumbbell press? As we are able to handle a larger load when using a barbell?
Barbell=larger loads, some balance and stability is created by the bar.
Dumbbells=smaller load than a Barbell, but you use more stabilizing muscles which is a great thing.
Best situation for gains would be a mix of Barbells and Dumbbells as you get the best of both worlds and both are equally important.
Originally posted by kmfisher: I try to use DBs for presses, but I have two big issues:
My DB's are adjustable. When I drop them to the ground, I have to stop and fix them since the weights tend to slide off.
The second issue is that when I set them on my legs, they bruise because of the weight clips, etc.
I wish I had fixed DBs, but they are too expensive.
You might want to start investing in Hex dumbbells for the larger weights. I try to buy a pair a month and now have a full set in 5lb increments up to 85lbs.
I stayed away from adjustables for those reasons stated. The end clips dug in hard to my thighs and they didn't look strong enough to handle the hard drops on bench if I could complete the rep.
Sometimes you can find them on sale at places like Dicks. Usually .39-.49 a lb.
quote:Originally posted by kmfisher: I try to use DBs for presses, but I have two big issues:
My DB's are adjustable. When I drop them to the ground, I have to stop and fix them since the weights tend to slide off.
The second issue is that when I set them on my legs, they bruise because of the weight clips, etc.
I wish I had fixed DBs, but they are too expensive.
You might want to start investing in Hex dumbbells for the larger weights. I try to buy a pair a month and now have a full set in 5lb increments up to 85lbs.
I stayed away from adjustables for those reasons stated. The end clips dug in hard to my thighs and they didn't look strong enough to handle the hard drops on bench if I could complete the rep.
Sometimes you can find them on sale at places like Dicks. Usually .39-.49 a lb.
Good Luck. [/quote]You can even start with the even numbers and purchase those magnetic 2.5 lb rings or clips to add incremental weight. When you get more funds, you can get the odd numbers.
Hex dumbbells are my all-time favorite dumbbells...they're just badass. *dreams about owning his own home gym with hex db's, power rack, dip station, bench and bb's*
i do agree that both DBs and BBs have their place in training-its finding that place out that is the key
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"Rust on a nail builds tetanus. Rust on a barbell builds character, strength, and attitude." -EC
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*then wakes up and finds himself sitting on a bench between sets with someone doing bentover rows directly infront of me 2 feet away between me and the mirror*
:p 
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