How many here actually use Dumbells in their workouts?

Ever notice how,on just about every lift, your weaker with the DB's than with a barbell?

This should tell you something..

Let's take the Seated Shoulder Press. If you're like me, you can make a good account with a barbell....but try it with Db's and the weight goes down substantially.

Now a lot of guys will say if you can get more weight up with the barbell...so much the better.

But the Db's quickly illuminate the shortcomings of "the chain of custody" when your using a barbell.

If the reality of the muscle strength in question were true , you should actually be able to lift MORE or equal on the same lift with DB's.

I don't know about you...but I find it never is...

So to my way of thinking, if you use DB's consistently in the mix on a regular basis, this should actually make your bar lifts stronger.

I'm using them more and more as time goes by....along with barbell lifts too.

How about you?

I think dumbbells are perhaps the lowest common demoninator when it comes to effective weight equipment, at least compared to barbells. With barbells your arms can sort of help each other and stabilize each other; with dumbbells there's no "cheating" going on and the maximum amount of muscle fiber is being worked being there is no opposing arm to help stabilize a pump and all the stabilization must be done simply with secondary muscles.

I think dumbbells are to weight equipment what egg whites are to protein and what whole oats are to carbs!

How many here actually use Dumbells in their workouts?

Ever notice how,on just about every lift, your weaker with the DB's than with a barbell?

I use dumbells a lot.

Some lifts where dumbells are a lot easier than barbells are the ones where the bar is held on the side. (Some of these are called suitcase lifts.) Hold an unloaded 7' bar in each hand. Do lunges, and don't let the bars hit the ground. Much, much, much harder than lunges with a pair od 45# dumbells.

And I haven't seen anyone doing barbell swings or diagonal raises, either.

Zen.... That reminds me of a guy whose thread I was reading yesterday on BB.com....

He does one-arm Curls with A Barbell..!!

I tried that yesterday....definitely puts a new twist on Curls so to speak.:)

Let's take the Seated Shoulder Press. If you're like me, you can make a good account with a barbell....but try it with Db's and the weight goes down substantially.


I can actually do more weight on this exercise with DB's. Probably because I've always done it with DB's, and I rarely use BB.

Zen.... That reminds me of a guy whose thread I was reading yesterday on BB.com....

He does one-arm Curls with A Barbell..!!

I tried that yesterday....definitely puts a new twist on Curls so to speak.:)

Yeah that would be another one.

The one of those that isn't really that much nastier than the dumbell version is the one arm barbell snatch. It's still trickier, but it goes up so fast (if you can do it) that if you start with the bar balanced, it sort of stays balanced.

I suppose the ultimate would be barbell Arnold presses. I don't see those in anyone's near term future.

Love the dumbells man!

>>>--->

The vast majority of my lifts are DB lifts, then bodyweight type lifts, then barbells. My DB press and bench press are pretty close.

Those lunges with the unloaded bars - what muscle groups would be getting worked more than with DBs?

I use dumbells a lot.

Some lifts where dumbells are a lot easier than barbells are the ones where the bar is held on the side. (Some of these are called suitcase lifts.) Hold an unloaded 7' bar in each hand. Do lunges, and don't let the bars hit the ground. Much, much, much harder than lunges with a pair od 45# dumbells.

And I haven't seen anyone doing barbell swings or diagonal raises, either.


1 Armed Snatches are also much easier with DBs :D

Those lunges with the unloaded bars - what muscle groups would be getting worked more than with DBs?

Wrists and forearms have to work much harder with the full barbell to stabilize to keep it off the ground for one thing. The long leverage of the weight intensifies the force it produces on you.

1 Armed Snatches are also much easier with DBs :D
Actually, I'd agree with zens. One armed barbell snatches aren't really much trickier than one armed dumbbell snatches. If you have it balanced at the beginning, it does pretty much stays balanced when you catch it. As well, I don't think I could do that much more with a dumbbell than I've done with a barbell, though I may be wrong.

Actually, I'd agree with zens. One armed barbell snatches aren't really much trickier than one armed dumbbell snatches. If you have it balanced at the beginning, it does pretty much stays balanced when you catch it. As well, I don't think I could do that much more with a dumbbell than I've done with a barbell, though I may be wrong.

I can't imagine doing them for reps with a BB like I can do with a DB. I've tried and I'm not sure I can control a 85-95 lb BB, and that's not impossible for me with DBs for several reps.

I can't imagine doing them for reps with a BB like I can do with a DB. I've tried and I'm not sure I can control a 85-95 lb BB, and that's not impossible for me with DBs for several reps.
Reps!? What are those? :lol: ;)

Those lunges with the unloaded bars - what muscle groups would be getting worked more than with DBs?

You first notice that in the arms, trying to keep the bar ends off the floor.

But then you find that you have to do the lunges much more slowly and steadily to prevent swing as opposed to control it. That can make things difficult from a balance and strength endurance point of view.

Just try them. It's one of those deals where a little experience makes things very clear when a lot of description might not really put a dent in it.

I can't imagine doing them for reps with a BB like I can do with a DB. I've tried and I'm not sure I can control a 85-95 lb BB, and that's not impossible for me with DBs for several reps.

A little practice.

If you are repping 95# one arm snatches then you have to start thinking about the barbell anyway pretty soon.

A little practice.

If you are repping 95# one arm snatches then you have to start thinking about the barbell anyway pretty soon.

I'm not doing huge sets, but I can do multiples.

I do 2 minute sets at 65-70 lbs alternating, so 95 isn't that big.

My DBs go to 125, so I still have a bit.

Just try them. It's one of those deals where a little experience makes things very clear when a lot of description might not really put a dent in it.

Kinda like the inverted row discussion yesterday.

Kinda like the inverted row discussion yesterday.

Yeah there are a lot of exercises like that. Usually they are worth knowing about.

You first notice that in the arms, trying to keep the bar ends off the floor.

But then you find that you have to do the lunges much more slowly and steadily to prevent swing as opposed to control it. That can make things difficult from a balance and strength endurance point of view.

Just try them. It's one of those deals where a little experience makes things very clear when a lot of description might not really put a dent in it.


I would love to try this, but I only have one 5' straight bar... When I get the oppurtunity I'll definitely give this a shot, though.

I would love to try this, but I only have one 5' straight bar... When I get the oppurtunity I'll definitely give this a shot, though.

Go for it. It's about the same difficulty with only one bar; it's easier because you only have to control one bar but it's harder because you don't have the other bar as a balance.

Go for it. It's about the same difficulty with only one bar; it's easier because you only have to control one bar but it's harder because you don't have the other bar as a balance.

right on, will do. Today is lower body day, too :D

right on, will do. Today is lower body day, too :D

Just remember the rep doesn't count if the bar touches the floor.