shoulder problem benching

[SkinnyGuy84]

hey guys,
i have problems doing a regular bench press and i have to use free weights, is this less beneficial then using a flat bench. what happens is when i use flat bench is that my shoulder just gives out and i get to the point where i cant lift at all, only happens when i use heavy weight and alot of reps, when i keep the reps low im all set, but when i do more thats when it gives out, my form is good and i dont htink its that, maybe an injury? i dunno any help would be sweet thanks

[Shibby]

Do you mean you have to use dumbells and not a barbell? Because those are both free weights.

[pierced one]

i cannot do barbell bench because it kills my shoulders. if i do moderate weight and dumbells i do just fine. i would think that there is more need for control when using dumbell so this would be more beneficial, but i am no scientist.

[Shibby]

I still believe most people go way to low with barbell bench. Once your chest is fully extended, anything farther is using your shoulders to bring it back up. To the chest is not the proper depth for most.

[SkinnyGuy84]

sorry for the confusion, yea i ment dumbells. ive really tried everything but i dont mind using dumbells i just wanted to know if they were just as good

[Shibby]

It mostly comes down to prefrence. It's pretty much the same motion.

[poppavic]

Originally posted by pierced one
i cannot do barbell bench because it kills my shoulders. if i do moderate weight and dumbells i do just fine. i would think that there is more need for control when using dumbell so this would be more beneficial, but i am no scientist.

I have the same problem with one shoulder, it comes and goes, so I also stay away from the barbell also. But you are right, the use of dumbells opposed to using a barbell can be more beneficial. You are in fact isolating each arm and using stabalizer muscles that you wouldnt necessarily use when doing bench with a barbell. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying which is better.

[imonboardtoo]

I like to change it up from bar to dumbbells. Really feel the difference with dumbbells. As everybody says, works and isolates more muscles.

[Slashmonay]

Dumbells isolate more, but Nothing compares to barbell bench, you can lift so much more weight.

[BBAddict]

Originally posted by Slashmonay
Nothing compares to barbell bench

Maybe for the ego or to impress the women, but, in terms of bodybuilding and maximum muscle hypertrophy, a lot of things are a lot better than barbell benching.

[Shibby]

How can you say something is better than another without being there? I have made most of my gains on barbell benching. My chest is the thing that most people comment on.

[Slashmonay]

different excersises work for different people, but my best chest builder was def barbell bench. I do my inclines with dumbells.

[BBAddict]

Originally posted by Slashmonay
different excersises work for different people

I suppose thats what it comes down to. Barbell bench doesn't do jack for me. I don't get a really great pump and definitely didn't see much growth when barbell bench was the focus of my workout. From stonecolds advice and from the readings of several pros, I switched to more flies and dumbells and my chest responded dramatically as compared to barbell benching. I am still of the OPINION, it is primarily an ego and powerlifting exercise.

[poppavic]

Originally posted by Slashmonay
Dumbells isolate more, but Nothing compares to barbell bench, you can lift so much more weight.

Of course your lifting so much more weight. Just look at the physics of it. Your using the MAJOR muscles in your chest, your using both arms DEPENDENT on each other. Whether some people like to admit it or nor you do put more weight on one arm or the other. Your also concentrate less on form and more on just getting the weight back up. I didn't say one doesn't control the weight but it not as controlled as when you have 120LB dumbells in each hand. During my second cycle I was throwing up something like 360-370 on bench and only doing 120 DBells. My workouts on heavy days on bench didn't compare to my days with the Dbells. Some of the skeptics out there should try a good heavy run with DBells I suspect you will be happy with the resulting increase on your bench.


I say something like on my bench because its been like a yr. since then and I don't remember exactly, but I do know it wasn't less than that.

[Scrumhalf]

I have also exclusively used dumbbells for my presses for the last few years. Now, I don't push the kind of weights some of you big boys do, but I have found dumbbells to be very effective.

Also, I tend to work out alone and I can safely get a couple of more reps in with dumbbells, whereas I would tend to stop a rep short with barbells to avoid getting stuck at the bottom......

[Primal Instinct]

I feel that both barbells and dumbells have an important place in chest development. I do agree with the barbell arguement that they are safer (you don't have to roll them off) if you encounter failure and that they better isolate the stabilizer muscles but I also like the barbell for inclines and declines. Of course, since I workout alone, I use it on a Smith machine with safety stops so I'm not decapitated on a heavy set to failure, lol.

[deadit]

I have the same problem only it occurs when I do when i do incline barbell presses.It turns out that I have a bad ac joint in my shoulder and like my doctor said if it hurts don't do it.I haven't noticed a decrease in strength since switching to dumbells so I would stay with that if I were you.