Is there a benefit to use barbells over dumbbells?
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teamAmelia
Posts: 1,247 Member
Is there any difference between barbells and dumbbells, any benefit to use one over the other? I'm a beginner, by the way.
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For myself, I found that my grip failed on things like step-ups and squats, when using dumbbells, long before my legs really felt challenged.
Putting the barbell on my back, I only had to balance the weight rather than bear it on my hands and arms. I was then able to perform squats and step-ups with enough weight to get real results.0 -
BB's are a must for squats and deadlfts....0
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Is there any difference between barbells and dumbbells, any benefit to use one over the other? I'm a beginner, by the way.
Use whichever is more convenient. You can do most exercises with either, including squats and deadlifts. I find dumbbells tend to be more versatile. For example you can combine a bicep curl and a shoulder press into one movement with dumbbells. You can't really do that with a barbell.
Dumbbells do work the arms & grip a little more - which i think is a good thing. Most beginners have a weak grip.0 -
Really depends on you and what you're doing. For exercises like squats and deadlifts, barbells are easier to manage with the bigger weights, but for most other exercises I actually prefer to use dumbells as you can isolate the muscles worked better and you incorporate a lot of the little balance muscles that come into play just keeping the bells steady during bench presses, overhead presses, etc.0
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You can use more weight with barbells because there's less stabilization for balance involved.
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I find both to be benefical depending on what type of exercise you are doing. I love barbells as you can load up the weight and it is easier to maintain grip.0
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BB's are a must for squats and deadlfts....
You can do variations of squats and deadlifts with dumbbells.0 -
I think having a mixture of dumbbell and barbell exercises are great.0
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I think having a mixture of dumbbell and barbell exercises are great.
Stability has already been mentioned.0 -
You can use more weight with barbells because there's less stabilization for balance involved.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
this
I use both- but for the really heavy stuff- BB is the way to go.
if you are just starting out and afraid the bar will be too heavy (standard oly bar is 45 lbs- the smaller women's one is 35- but almost every gym will carry 45's standard) work you're way up using DB's.0 -
Right now that I don't lift too heavy dumbbells work just fine for me. But once I start lifting heavier weights *defined by me as more than a barbell would weigh or more than is comfortable to lift with good form* then I am definitely going for the barbell and weights because it will just be easier to work with.0
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You can go much heavier with barbells, and you have more stability.
Also, I personally think squats are really awkward to do with DB's as it is, and even more so if you don't have the upper body strength to balance it around shoulder height.0 -
You can go much heavier with barbells, and you have more stability.
Also, I personally think squats are really awkward to do with DB's as it is, and even more so if you don't have the upper body strength to balance it around shoulder height.
the dumbbells can be held at the sides, especially when they get heavier. Other variations that are great are goblet squats and plié/sumo dumbbell squats.0 -
Kind of hard to say you should use one over the other. Because you should use them both for different reasons. There are times when dumbbell's are more appropriate and times when barbells are. All depends on what you're doing.
What are your goals?0 -
I was using a program the was mostly dumbbell work from Jan. of this year until about a month ago. I made progress and enjoyed it. The greater range of motion with DBs was really helpful for an old shoulder issue on presses. Since you are a beginner, DBs could really be a great intro to lifting.
As others have noted, you will probably want to move to BBs once you progress and really want to add weights. Squats and dead lifts become difficult with DBs. You even have to be careful with DB presses if the weights get heavy...getting them into position can be a challenge.0 -
BB's are a must for squats and deadlfts....
this.
you're going to be able to handle more weight with a barbell in most exercises. plus, in terms of cost for workout equipment, a barbell + some plates is the best investment you can make.0 -
I have never done a ton of lifting with dumbbells, but I have extensive experience with kettlebells, which are, for your purposes, interchangeable. I got to be really freaking strong using kettlebells before I ever touched a barbell, and I would surmise that they are the reason I have made so much progress with the barbell now.
Aside from the ballistic kettlebell lifts (which would be fairly awkward with dumbbells), I did goblet squats, front squats, strict presses, push presses, deadlifts, contralateral single leg deadlifts, lunges, Turkish get ups, and probably a lot of stuff I'm forgetting about. My advice, if you want to advance to barbell lifting at some point, is to use dumbbells or kettlebells to do a lot of Turkish get-ups, double front squats (these are particularly freaking brutal), and double presses. You will get beastishly strong from those, as you progress to heavier weights. And then when you start lifting with an Olympic bar, you will be way ahead of most beginners in terms of strength and core stability.
But to (somewhat) answer your question, I do think you need to train with an eye toward heavy barbell lifting.0 -
In summary, they both have their place.
BB -- Lift heavier, easier to control at higher weights
DB -- Challenge various supporting muscles more0 -
I can lift a heavier using a bar than I can using dumbbells. 100 lbs on a barbell is possible for me to lift on a bench press, but two 50 lb dumbbells is not.0
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