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> [Unlike barbells,] Dumbbells are a body-building tool, not a strength building one.

Can you explain further? Clearly, barbells are easier to lift (see e.g. Effects of body position and loading modality on muscle activity and strength in shoulder presses), probably because they activate less muscles, but you seem to suggest that there's evidence that lifting barbells will also make you gain strength faster than when lifting dumbbells?

My guess would be that replacing dumbbells with barbells is bad for the same reason that you say using press machines is bad.




SS suggests that at some point, you simply can't grip dumbbells heavy enough to tax your larger muscles.

I would guess that stability muscles like the rotator cuff will be unable to get stronger at a rate fast enough to tax larger muscles.




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