A question about relating Dumbbell bench presses to regular benching

[Ricky]

If you bench 200 lbs, you should be able to dumbbell press with bigger than 100 lbs in each hand, at least that is what I read.

But, what gym has bigger than 100 lb dummbells? Mine sure doesn't. It gets up to 75 lbs only.

Just curious what you think about this.

To be honest the biggest dummbells I've picked up for dumbbell pressing were 60 lbs. It is tougher to get them in position than it is to bench them, and my regular bench is well over 200 lbs.

The reason I'm interested in this, is that I hurt my shoulder benching and noticed the recommendation to use dummbells again for a while to improve my stabilizer muscles.

 

[The Great Juan]

I don't know where you read that you should be able to dumbell press the same as barbell press, because as you said, dumbells use more stabilzer muscles and it is a much harder exercise. If you can bench 200 lbs on flat barbell bench you will never put up the 100 lbs dumbells.

As for which gyms go past 100 lbs dumbells, i always thought my gym was pretty scummy, it looks like it is in a big shed, there's broken cardio machines everywhere, but the more i hear about other gym's equipment mine sounds quite good because our dumbells go up to 60 kgs (132 lbs) or maybe 65 kgs, can't remember, i've only seen one guy use them but he was only doing half reps anyway.

But getting back to your question, you have to be really strong to get up the 100s, i'd say closer to 300 lbs on the flat barbell bench but that's just a guess really because i'm nowhere near that

Make sure you go easy on the dumbell press to because if you have a bad shoulder because if you use too much weight it'll more likely do more damage.

 

[DJ Girevik]

I can bench 170-180, but can dumbbell press only about 55 in each hand. You read wrong Ricky.

 

[Drex]

My max on the bar bench is 160, my max dumbell bench is 60. Definately cannot bench the same weight with dumbells as you can on the bar.

 

[DIESEL]

Well Ricky, I have to agree with the other posters. You can't just divide the bar weight in two and assume that's your "dumbbell weight" .. Physics and gravity are funny like that.

Tell you what, there's really one way to find out. Grab the 75s and see how many reps you can crank out. If you can do more than 8 with good form then it's too light. If not.... then it should be just about right for mass training.


as to which one to do. I usually do hella inclines (bar and DB) and not much flat work. I'm not building for raw power as I'm not a powerlifter. I'm building for size and shape. If you want an awesome looking chest do tons of incline work.

 

[Ricky]

Thanks Diesel.

I have taken alot of physics and the lever arm difference would actually favor your being able to lift heavier dumbbells.

However, the wt is more concentrated and distributed over a smaller area, so that may be enough to counterbalance it.

Actually the biggest problem is getting them into the pressing position.

Diesel, I do like the incline idea as well. You can work utilize your shoulders and chest at the same time.

I actually did read in a bodybuilding rag that you should be able to lift more per dumbbell.

In any event, mine go up to 75. The most I've ever used is 60, but once again, that is more due to the difficulty of getting them into the start position.

DIESEL, do you do more lifting with dumbbells or the bar when you do inclines?

 

[DIESEL]

Originally posted by Ricky


DIESEL, do you do more lifting with dumbbells or the bar when you do inclines?

I do both. And usually in equal amounts of sets. However, I usually do the barbell work first because you can really pile on the weight, and then finish it up with heavy dumbbell work.

Oh yeah, when I do DB inclines.. always have the incline bench set at the lowest position

 

[Soshyopathe]

I've been doingdumbell bench only for a while, and my dumbell bench is getting up near my bar=bench. Just depends how long you've done them.

 

[StuartScott x 2]

Originally posted by DIESEL
I do both. And usually in equal amounts of sets. However, I usually do the barbell work first because you can really pile on the weight, and then finish it up with heavy dumbbell work.

Oh yeah, when I do DB inclines.. always have the incline bench set at the lowest position

Lowest position??? I usually set mine at the highest position just before it gets straight, like about 30 degrees, therefore I can get the most work on my upper chest. It's also harder to do that way.

 

[DIESEL]

Originally posted by StuartScott x 2
Lowest position??? I usually set mine at the highest position just before it gets straight, like about 30 degrees, therefore I can get the most work on my upper chest. It's also harder to do that way.

That's because you're doing delt presses not incline bench. What you are describing is basically working all front delts and maybe some upper pec as an assisting muscle. It should be the other way around. Incline benches should be done at 30 DEGRESS FROM THE FLOOR.

 

[Exodus]

right

Originally posted by Soshyopathe
I've been doingdumbell bench only for a while, and my dumbell bench is getting up near my bar=bench. Just depends how long you've done them.

He's right, i've been only doing dumbell presses, and i've recently tried the flat barbell bench and my dumbell press poundage is actually greater than my barbell bench. It's kind of strange how it doesn't correlate...

 

[Ricky]

I think most gyms don't go up much more than 100 lb dumbbells.

Well the most I've incline or flat dummbell pressed was two-65 lb dumbbells in my hand. But as stated, it is more due to getting them into the start position.

My bench is nothing crazy it is in the 225-240 range. Although I recently hurt my shoulder at the higher end of that range.

My goal is to get up to benching over 300 by August, but I had to take a break for a while.