Bench Question

[WantingMuscle7]

Im just curious whether a bench press is more beneficial or a DB press. I have a machine at home where I bench press most of the time. The problem is when I use the bar in a gym the weight I would usually use at my house seems noticably heavier. So like the machine at my house im thinking is maybe off so im wondering if I should stick to mayb DB press when i workout at home.

[Darkhorse]

The barbell gives you the ability of more weight. Dumbbells give you a better range of motion, and strengthens your stability muscles. I recommend to do both. Don't forget to factor the weight of the barbell.

[CraigHill]

Yes you should do both! Also dont forget about pushups they help out alot to.

[BG5150]

I would never rely on the poundages on the machines as accurate weight. One time I was at a cheesey hotel gym on the road and wanted to work out a little. Just a bit. I figured a couple sets of 135 on the bench would suit me. Well, I set the pin on 140 and was set to go. I almost tore my shoulders out of their sockets when the weight went up so quickly--it felt like, maybe 100 or so pounds.

Also, with the limited ROM on machines, your stabilizeres have less work to do, so the weight seems a little lighter too--just think, you don't have to keep the bar from movin forward or back, or left or right.

And also with machines, I find that the same "weight" differs from machine to machine--right in my very own gym! When I first started working out again, several months back, I was doing tri pressdowns on one machine set at "70" and was able to do them fine. The next workout, someone was using that machine, so I used a different one. I could hardly budge the "70"!

As for DB v BB bench press I found it's good to vary them up. Especially when you hit a plateau. DB's are harder, and you won't be able to press nearly as much as with a BB, because, once again, those lovely stabilizers are now working overtime compared to the BB press.

[verbatimreturned]

the machines arent consistant as far as weight. ive had experienced just like what bradG said one time with the tricep pressdowns and then with the benching universal. i would also use both barbell and dumbbell to get some variation into things

[WantingMuscle7]

This may sound like a beginner question maybe? But as I do the DB press I always wonder why its not half of what I bench because its less. My guess is because its harder to stabilize.

[ChinPieceDave667]

Originally Posted by WantingMuscle7

This may sound like a beginner question maybe? But as I do the DB press I always wonder why its not half of what I bench because its less. My guess is because its harder to stabilize.

yup.. and you move more at the top of the movement when you touch the weights together... ya can't do that with a barbell