So I really like incline dumbbell press, but I’ve progressed to the point where its become pretty fucking hard to lift the dumbbells over my chest to start the exercise. I am a smaller guy lifting 75 lbs dumbbells at the moment (not very Internet-Strong, I know.), so it’s become a real struggle to start the exercise.
Would switching to a smith machine cause ‘muscle imbalance’ or whatever? I do really like the serratus-anterior growth I get from incline dumbbell, would that also translate to the smith machine?
Well, are you doing something stupid like lifting dumbbells so heavy that you could only get a few reps? If so, knock it off, and then your problem is solved.
Otherwise no you do not need to go run to the smith machine just because an exercises is becoming challenging. You can stick with it until you’re strong enough to do the next set of dumbbells.
[quote]dtheyer wrote:
So I really like incline dumbbell press, but I’ve progressed to the point where its become pretty fucking hard to lift the dumbbells over my chest to start the exercise. I am a smaller guy lifting 75 lbs dumbbells at the moment (not very Internet-Strong, I know.), so it’s become a real struggle to start the exercise.
Would switching to a smith machine cause ‘muscle imbalance’ or whatever? I do really like the serratus-anterior growth I get from incline dumbbell, would that also translate to the smith machine?[/quote]
Get someone to help, or learn technique for getting dumb-bells up. 75lbs aren’t heavy in real life, the insinuation of internet numbers by people is quite ignorant. Most guys on here seem quite legit when you see their numbers and the matching builds (case in point, I have intermediate numbers for most lifts and have a ‘works out’ build)
No it won’t cause imbalance or whatever, unless you have other issues in the shoulder that a Smith may exacerbate.
Odd that you pay attention to Serratus growth from incline pressing, but fair enough.
You can certainly lift heavier on the Smith versus DBs, so if your shoulders can handle it, why not do both? Like others have said, get a spot if it’s too hard to lift the DBs to the starting position. DBs give you the benefit of working stabilizers that the Smith won’t.
[quote]Rocky2 wrote:
Just ask someone to push up your elbows on your first set. Surely there are other people in your gym?[/quote]
This. I have bad technique with getting the DBs up on my own… in fact, I CAN’T do it. For me personally, I would have never been able to start using heavy DBs without the use of someone else.
Rest them on your knees and learn to kick them up as you are falling back on the bench. If its a problem with the first rep from the end of the eccentric position then get a lift on the first rep.
I’m certain you can figure out a way to get the dumbbells up but there is nothing wrong with the smith machine either. I use it pretty frequently because it’s actually easier on my shoulder and I can feel the muscle group working more as opposed to barbell, but I still do both.
I think it’s alot to do with overall strength too, if your biceps, lower back and core are weak etc then it can limit what your going to get up on yourself. I can get 55kgs dbs up on myself @76kg bw but can only press 45kgs comfortably on an incline. Less than a year ago i was struggling to get 30kgs up but wasn’t even deadlifting or doing barbell curls. I can now do about 70kg x 5 on the bbcurl and had my dead upto 190kg at one point and i feel it pushed my strength up alot on getting dbs up for bench etc.
[quote]dtheyer wrote:
So I really like incline dumbbell press, but I’ve progressed to the point where its become pretty fucking hard to lift the dumbbells over my chest to start the exercise. I am a smaller guy lifting 75 lbs dumbbells at the moment (not very Internet-Strong, I know.), so it’s become a real struggle to start the exercise.
Would switching to a smith machine cause ‘muscle imbalance’ or whatever? I do really like the serratus-anterior growth I get from incline dumbbell, would that also translate to the smith machine?[/quote]
Use some sort of barbell/machine for the heavy pressing (e.g. 4-8 reps).
And dumbbells for the “lighter” pressing (e.g. 8-15 reps)
I agree with who said to do heavy pressing with a smith (or a barbell, as I do now) and then inline DB for lighter, later sets.
It is hard to kick up the heavier DBs (heavier for me at the momemnt for incline is about 45kg), since this has a negative effect on the workout, I just don’t do it. Help with a hand-off is one of the benefits of a gym partner.
I’d like to hijack this for a second, while we’re on the incline subject. My left shoulder is a little messed up and the only incline movement I can do is the HS seated incline press. Is there any way back to using the barbell or dumbbells?
