Overhead Press--dumbbells or curl bar?

Amelia7779

Hi everyone...

I'm not currently strong enough to use a standard barbell for overhead/military press. I've been using dumbbells, right now using 15 each (so 30). My idea is to work up to using the barbell...but I'm wondering if using the 30 lb curl bar and going from there would be better. Or would it make no difference at all?

Thanks!

rejectuf

I'd keep using dumbbells. Does your gym not have any training barbells available? They do make 15 and 20 pound barbells meant for training.

Amelia7779

I'd keep using dumbbells. Does your gym not have any training barbells available? They do make 15 and 20 pound barbells meant for training.

I'll look into it, thanks!

Cherimoose

I like using dumbbells, since each arm moves independently, so it works the stabilizer muscles more. Probably not the best choice for a bodybuilder, but good for functional strength. It depends what your goal is.

IronSmasher

You've implied that you want to build up to military pressing a full sized bar. Using a lighter bar rather than dumbells may lead to this marginally quicker.

Has your gym no fixed barbells?

AlongCame_Molly

I feel like using dumbbells engages more stabilizing muscles, so that's what I use.

Amelia7779

Thanks guys. I'm going to look into whether the gym has lighter barbells, otherwise I'll just keep building with the dumbbells