Training pecs (help)

[ball22]

A few questions...

1....I don't know how common this is but my left pec is somewhat larger than my right.
I am right handed if that is any help. Is this normal ?

2.... for some reason I can do more weight with dumbells than with the barbell.. example... lets say I can do 200lbs only12x on a barbell but I can do 110 lb dumbells 15x. why would this be ? I thought someone would be able to do MORE weight with a barbell !

3..... how far apart should I place my hands to put more emphsis on my chest muscle and less on mt arms.

Thank you for your help!!

Jim

 

[XxIcEMaNxX]

Well when you use a barbell, your stronger arm usually tends to take over more than your weaker arm. With dumbells though you use equal force to push up those weights. So that could be one reason why one pec would be larger than the other. Or it could be you aren't focusing enough on your form. Or it could be genetics. You would have to be more detailed and tell us what your workout is if we were to further analyze it. So just focus more and concentrate on what you are doing too. If you concentrate more on one muscle it will catch up in time. My right bicep was bigger than my left, then i started concentration more on my left one and in time it caught up. And I would use a wider grip to work the whole pec area more. Inner would be mostly arms and standard is both, and wide grip is more of the whole pec area.

 

[jhov]

1) It is normal to have a stronger side. This would contribute to the size discrepency. Just train hard and the should even out in time, however if it is really bad then here are some guidelines that help:
-Try using dumbbells to isolate that arm
-When using barbells, concentrate on pushing evenly
-Try unilateral training starting with the weaker arm first
-Have a training partner or use a mirror to make sure you are using perfect form and doing the exercise evenly on both the positive and negative reps
-Have patience since it will take time.

2)110lbs is not 200lbs so do not compare it in that way bro, it is all about total stress placed upon the fibers to stimulate growth. Your stronger side helps alot when using a bar and this would account for those discrepancies

3)Your arms should be far enough apart that when you are at the most eccentric point during the press that your forearms perpendicular to the floor( hope I translated that from dutch correctly). going wider puts too much strain on the rc and closer would ut more strain on the triceps!

hope this helps bro
peace
j

 

[ball22]

jhov

>>>>>>>>>>2)110lbs is not 200lbs so do not compare it in that way bro, it is all about total stress placed upon the fibers to stimulate growth. Your stronger side helps alot when using a bar and this would account for those discrepancies<<<<<<<<<<

Are you saying that benching 2-110lb dumbells for a total weight of 220lbs. is not the more than benching 200lbs on a barbell?

Please explain...

Thanks again,
Jim

 

[jhov]

No bro that is not what I am saying. what i am saying is that the total stress placed upon the muscles with a bar and with db is different. the rom is different, the mode of movement is slightly different etc. thus comparing pure weight totals to each other on both movements is not the best way to do things. if you want to compare the two that is fine but just keep the total amounts close and not directly relate/correlate the two bro like i said above many other factors play a role!
peace
j