barbell vs dumbell

Just wanted to know, what do you guys prefer overall. Seeing as how you can use dumbells or barbells for the same exercises. Curls, squats, bench press, etc.

Dumbells whenever you can.

Dumbells, except when it gets too expensive....

nopiforyou said:

Just wanted to know, what do you guys prefer overall. Seeing as how you can use dumbells or barbells for the same exercises. Curls, squats, bench press, etc.

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I use barbells for squats, bench press and dead lift, and dumbells for bench press and everything else, minus squats and dead lift. I dont really have a preference but its best to use both, as they hit your muscles differently.

Just asking because the gym I go to has few barbells, but a lot of dumbells. Plus I have a few pairs at home. I didn't think they make that much of a difference, bench anyway, except that its hard to workout both arms evenly with dumbells.

nopiforyou said:

Just asking because the gym I go to has few barbells, but a lot of dumbells. Plus I have a few pairs at home. I didn't think they make that much of a difference, bench anyway, except that its hard to workout both arms evenly with dumbells.

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That's one of the many reasons why dumbells are more effective than barbells.

Really? Why's that so? Wouldn't you want to be more evenly distributed?

nopiforyou said:

Really? Why's that so? Wouldn't you want to be more evenly distributed?

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You have to force youself to work each arm evenly using dumbells. By doing so, it will help develop the smaller synergistic (helping) muscles, along with the major muscle groups.

So in general, dumbells are better than barbells. Barbells are better than machines.

Dumbells are more versatile than barbells. For example, you can change your grip position when doing dumbell curls. Palm facing your body, facing upward, facing downward or you can start with the palm facing your body and turn your palm upward during the curl.

Dumbells let you mimic the neurological and movement patterns of sports. Dumbells give you a better range of motion.

Power (the ability to drive a weight or your body explosively in one direction) is better improved by dumbells.

Free-weights def. help you work out your stabilizing muscles.

AlpineCadet said:

Free-weights def. help you work out your stabilizing muscles.

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It goes Machines are the worst... Free wights are good .... then Dumbbells most muscle activation. But it depends on what you are trying to do.

If you are training for tennis I'd say mostly plyometrics and some dumbbell/core work. Except leg days then Free wights and dumbells.

If you are trying to get a great "beach body" free weights and dumbbells are required in my opinion. Do some searches for Body for life workouts and things like that. Usually the pro body builder type workouts aren't good cause those guys are Juicing like mad, and you'll just hurt yourself or overtrain. - My reason is to get "Big" you have to do soem very heavy weight, 2-6 reps training. It gets very awkward when you start using 80++ pound dumbbells, and harder to spot, or find someone that knows how to spot.

In college I weighed 190 and could bench about 315 for 4-6 reps. I took creatine but no steroids etc. and yes my tennis suffered, but I wasn't playing much and rathered look good for girls. Figure out your priorities and go from there.

richw76 said:

If you are training for tennis I'd say mostly plyometrics and some dumbbell/core work. Except leg days then Free wights and dumbells.

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rich, care to give examples of plyometric exercises? I did a search and mostly got the explanations on what it is but not much in the way of examples.

Thanks.

EDIT: Never mind....I think I found a site with some exercises. Thank you.