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machine press,lost 30lbs off barbell

shortbuffasian Posts: 13 Joined: 2005/03/17	2005/12/19, 09:33 PM I took a break from weight lifting over the summer and started going to the gym again about 6 weeks ago. Because there is no one to spot me,I stayed away from the barbell bench press and did the machine press. In May,I could do 165 6 times with good form. I can do 210 3x5 on the machine but I tried 135 with the barbell yesterday when my sister spotted me and I could only do 3 with really bad form. I've heard that machines are more concentrated on single muscles and don't have the effect as barbell bench because it doesnt work your little muscles that help balance.I know benching is over asked here but thats a huge hit... should I just start benching again to get back up? will dumbell presses have the same effect?
bropie Posts: 1,084 Joined: 2004/12/04	2005/12/20, 10:29 AM i would jump back in on the regular bench press. i am in the same situ, coming off a hand injury. i did bar bench presses before, and am back at it again. im not a big fan of machine bench presses for that exact reason: stabilizers. training your stabilizers is more realistic, and will carry over to help your other lifts with balance, and provide more real world application as not everything will be held in a predetermined range of motion. you dont need a spotter to do regular bench press, just train smart. dumbell presses are more related to shaping the chest, or to train the pecs individually. if you want your bench back up, i suggest getting right back on it.
sstump1 Posts: 1,227 Joined: 2005/03/20	2005/12/20, 11:38 AM I was always under the impression that dumbell presses were better for building the stabilizer muscles as well as symetrical strength from side to side. I use dumbells mostly for my bench. I figure if I can't handle the weight I can always toss them off the side...after a quick glance around to make sure that I'm not going to hit someone.
wrestler125 Posts: 4,619 Joined: 2004/01/27	2005/12/20, 12:03 PM Dumbbell presses do build the stabilizers. However, with the barbell bench press, you get the added benefit of being able to use more weight, which will recruit more muscle. My advice: Use the barbell bench press when you can, the dumbbell bench press when you can't or don't have a spotter. -------------- Pain is only temporary, it is in your mind. If you can still walk, then you can still run. ============ Quoting from 7707mutt: The squat cage is holy ground. ============
Nyxtikal Posts: 268 Joined: 2005/09/20	2005/12/20, 03:08 PM i agree with wrestler, machines stabilize the weight for you and make sure that you are always in balance, they dont give you anywhere near the same affects as free weights will