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Getbig Bodybuilding Boards => Training Q&A => Topic started by: canadaphiliac on January 07, 2007, 07:05:17 PM
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Ok, so here's my problem: using a barbell, I can only bench 155 pounds, but using dumbbells, 110 pound dumbbells are a breeze. I don't get it, anything over 155 and I literally can't get the bar back off my chest up. It's nothing to do with my form, as I can feel the muscle working doing both exercises. I don't have any ideas or theories on why this is. You guys have any?
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u are probly using more shoulders in your db presses , eg your hands naturally dont go as wide as a bb bench
or it might be how your wrists are postioned.......maybe
are u getting good chest gains anyhow?
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That doesn't sound right. You should get someone to watch you do both and see if there's any big difference in technique.
Just use whichever hits the muscles.
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Ok, so here's my problem: using a barbell, I can only bench 155 pounds, but using dumbbells, 110 pound dumbbells are a breeze. I don't get it, anything over 155 and I literally can't get the bar back off my chest up. It's nothing to do with my form, as I can feel the muscle working doing both exercises. I don't have any ideas or theories on why this is. You guys have any?
lame attempt at trolling the training forum :-\
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Ironically, I can basically close grip the same amount of weight as I regular bench which pisses me off. Damn shoulders!
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u are probly using more shoulders in your db presses , eg your hands naturally dont go as wide as a bb bench
or it might be how your wrists are postioned.......maybe
are u getting good chest gains anyhow?
Well, I feel both in my chest, I do keep my hands facing each other with the dumbbells, but could that really make that big of a difference? Gains...definately not what I'd like them to be, with either. Especially my the upper middle portion and the lower outer portion.
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That doesn't sound right. You should get someone to watch you do both and see if there's any big difference in technique.
Agree
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Agree
Aighty, well, chest isn't till tomorrow, so I'll report back then I suppose.
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Based on what you said, it could also be due to the fact that you're using a neutral grip on DBs. Use whatever works, forget the difference in weight.
If neither is working that well go to different exercises like DB/cable flys, pec deck, dips, pushups with resistance, etc.
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Based on what you said, it could also be due to the fact that you're using a neutral grip on DBs. Use whatever works, forget the difference in weight.
If neither is working that well go to different exercises like DB/cable flys, pec deck, dips, pushups with resistance, etc.
Today I tried pushups with resistence and the pump I got in my chest and triceps was fantastic, I think I just replaced barbell bench in my routine, hot damn.
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you can press the 110 pound dumbells (110 pound per dumbell) and yet can't press 155 ??? You must have some monster range of motion on those db presses.
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you can press the 110 pound dumbells (110 pound per dumbell) and yet can't press 155 ??? You must have some monster range of motion on those db presses.
I touch the bar with my chest and have a pause with barbells, and go below level with my chest on dumbbells. One thing I've noticed though is that my serratus is (pathetically) more developed than my chest, and I've heard that it gets worked alot more with dumbbells than with barbells, so I guess that'll be my next theory on my irksome strength imbalance.
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I dont believe that for a second.
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I dont believe that for a second.
Then it's fortunate for us all it doesn't matter what you believe.
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Are you adding up your dumbell poundage? As in you're using two 55 pound dumbells and calling it a 110 pound lift? In that case I will believe what you're saying. Otherwise you're BS'in.
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Are you adding up your dumbell poundage? As in you're using two 55 pound dumbells and calling it a 110 pound lift? In that case I will believe what you're saying. Otherwise you're BS'in.
No, they're 110 a piece, a total of 220. albiet I do sets of 8 with them and sets of 12 with 155. Which still doesn't make sense, I can do working sets with 155, but I can't even move anything more than 155 with a barbell, for any number of reps.
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No, they're 110 a piece, a total of 220. albiet I do sets of 8 with them and sets of 12 with 155. Which still doesn't make sense, I can do working sets with 155, but I can't even move anything more than 155 with a barbell, for any number of reps.
That's nuts. how long have you been flat benching?
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That's nuts. how long have you been flat benching?
Started training seriously about 9 months ago, and like all gym noobies, was going nuts on bench presses at the beginning. What sucks most... when I started training I was (barbell) bench pressing 135, and dumbbell pressing 60 pound dumbbells, at least one's improved a bit. Pretty much every other bodypart and exercise has progressed just fine, except maybe my shoulders. Any nuggets of wisdom for working my way out of my problem, on both bodyparts, would be thoroughly appreciated.
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In the beginning, I found that I could do more weight using individual dumbells for flat presses than by benching....then it changed.
Someone at that time told me that it was because my arms were much stronger than my chest (pectoralis) and they (tris etc.) were utilized more with single dumbell presses. Not sure if this was true-- but....
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If this is true somethings seriously wrong with your form. I bench 225 for 4-6 and 100s for 4-6
Try training the bottom portion of the lift,like chest to just 4 or 5 inches off because thats the part of the lift your having trouble with just 2 cents :)
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If this is true somethings seriously wrong with your form. I bench 225 for 4-6 and 100s for 4-6
Try training the bottom portion of the lift,like chest to just 4 or 5 inches off because thats the part of the lift your having trouble with just 2 cents :)
From the feedback I've gotten and from the last time I trained chest, I think I'm going to do more weighted pushups, and focus on that bottom portion of the bench. Bleh, I want to hurry up and be making progress again...stupid human body.
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this guy is full of it. in the beginning of the thread he says "the most i can bench is 155".then later in the thread he states he can do 155 for 12 reps.? is he sayin if he adds any more weight to the bar he cant do any reps?if so then hes 1)full of shit or 2)a medical mystery.
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this guy is full of it. in the beginning of the thread he says "the most i can bench is 155".then later in the thread he states he can do 155 for 12 reps.? is he sayin if he adds any more weight to the bar he cant do any reps?if so then hes 1)full of shit or 2)a medical mystery.
Yes that's what I'm saying. 155 I can do for 12, but at the same time it's the most weight I can use on a barbell for one rep. Hell, there's no point in being full of shit on this, why the hell make this up and not claim the weight is atleast 255, seriously now. Sure, everyone benches more on the internet, but when you have a problem you'd like to have solved, bs'ing won't make it any easier.
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iv been at this a long time kid.and never in all my years have i ever seen a persons one rep max be the same as a weight they can get 12 reps with.its a mathematical impossibility.the only other explanation other than you being completely full of shit is that its all in your head.when going for a one rep max lift you better be mentally Abel to lift the weight or you wont do it physically
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lol someone is phsycotic
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I had a workout partner similar to you. I could kill him on barbell press but he would tear me up on db's. It doesnt make since you can do 220 in DB and only 155 in barbell. Are these db's your using accurate? Most ive ever done was 90lb db's for 8 reps and I was doing 245 for 7 on barbell flat bench. Guess im the opposite of you :-\ Are you doing your barbell work right after your db work? Thats the only reason I could see why your not doing much weight on BB... already tired for DB? Are you sucking the DB's close to your body? That makes them easier to do..
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I had a workout partner similar to you. I could kill him on barbell press but he would tear me up on db's. It doesnt make since you can do 220 in DB and only 155 in barbell. Are these db's your using accurate? Most ive ever done was 90lb db's for 8 reps and I was doing 245 for 7 on barbell flat bench. Guess im the opposite of you :-\ Are you doing your barbell work right after your db work? Thats the only reason I could see why your not doing much weight on BB... already tired for DB? Are you sucking the DB's close to your body? That makes them easier to do..
I've alternated doing one or the other first and it's always been the same, I usually don't feel much fatigue or delapitating strength until near the end of my workout. Using the same form on both exercises. For the moment I've given up barbells in favor of weighted push ups and hoping to see (and feel) a difference.
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Although this seems to be too big of a discrepancy for this to matter, it is possible that you use a fairly short ROM on the DBs, and a full ROM on the barbell which could make quite a difference in the poundages. However, for someone who says the 110s are "light", benching 225 really shouldn't be a problem at all.
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Aside from your dilemma, I also find it hard to believe or to be respectful I'll say "very impressive" that you have been lifting steady for less than a year and you are pushing 110 lb dumbbells for that many reps.
So you are literally saying that you can push 155 for 12 reps, but even if you slap an extra 2.5 or 5lb plate on either side you couldnt get that for 8-10reps?
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Although this seems to be too big of a discrepancy for this to matter, it is possible that you use a fairly short ROM on the DBs, and a full ROM on the barbell which could make quite a difference in the poundages. However, for someone who says the 110s are "light", benching 225 really shouldn't be a problem at all.
Yeah, you would think so...cuz it really does suck lookin' like a douche putting a whoppin' 45 and 10 a side on the bar for an absolutely epic set.
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Aside from your dilemma, I also find it hard to believe or to be respectful I'll say "very impressive" that you have been lifting steady for less than a year and you are pushing 110 lb dumbbells for that many reps.
So you are literally saying that you can push 155 for 12 reps, but even if you slap an extra 2.5 or 5lb plate on either side you couldn't get that for 8-10reps?
hell hes sayin if he added 2.5 or 5lb plates to 155 he couldn't do one rep! let alone 8-10.I think hes just fuckin with us.155 for twelve!.160 for zero?come on man....
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hell hes sayin if he added 2.5 or 5lb plates to 155 he couldn't do one rep! let alone 8-10.I think hes just fuckin with us.155 for twelve!.160 for zero?come on man....
Psht, when you say it that way you make it sound really bad. But as previously stated, I've forsaken barbells for the time being on the grounds that they're gay, they piss me off, and another reason that I'll come up with later. But still, any suggestions for improvement or a routine at all would be much appreciated.
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i suck at barbell bench too, dude....but my chest still looks pretty good. so i lie and tell people i put up big numbers. hahahha...i look like it though, so its all good. just stick to what works best for you bro.
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i suck at barbell bench too, dude....but my chest still looks pretty good. so i lie and tell people i put up big numbers. hahahha...i look like it though, so its all good. just stick to what works best for you bro.
Chest and shoulders are definately my worst, everything else I would say were pretty decent, but they were exercised alot in my earlier years, climbing trees, and hoppin' fences, and getting chased by dogs and whatnot.
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big L dawg, i think you're not getting the point, he never said anywhere 155 was his one rep max..
DURRRR
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No, they're 110 a piece, a total of 220. albiet I do sets of 8 with them and sets of 12 with 155. Which still doesn't make sense, I can do working sets with 155, but I can't even move anything more than 155 with a barbell, for any number of reps.
"I can't move anything more than 155 with a barbell"what does that mean then idiot. i guess a one rep max and not being able to lift any more than 155 with a barebell,"for any number of reps" are to different things...............DUR RRRRRRRRRRR!
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it was obviously a miscommunication and he corrected himself, why is this even important!?!
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whats your one rep max canadaphiliac?
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whats your one rep max canadaphiliac?
I just got my wisdom teeth taken out, and in my swollen and heavily drugged state decided I wasn't going to miss a gym "appointment". Well, I managed the unbelievable and finally benched an absolutely MONSTER( ::)) 170 lbs for an epic single, and shaky, rep. Yeah, maybe one of these days I'll be out of the 'tiny tit' qualifying range. :D