Question re: Dips

**asoe209** · 19-01-2012 12:11 PM

Just wanted to know how good parallel bar dips are for you triceps?
And how there would fear up against some thing like roes extensions and v bar pulldowns which i currently do?

An how much do they help the chest?

**Zeigler** · 19-01-2012 12:46 PM

Along with Close Grip Bench, Parallel bar dips are great for the triceps. You can hit your chest more by tucking your chin to your chest and putting your feet/legs out in front of you or bring your knees up infront of you, or if you want more tri's then make sure you dip completely upright. Remember that pulldowns and extensions are isolation and dips will enable hella more weight. Just use them as your main and do a few sets of pulldowns a week if you still need them.

Ring dips are even better, they're curently my main chest and tricep exercise and they hit shoulders hard (so do parallels too). In an ideal world everyone would be able to OHP correctly and without causing damage, IMO, this isnt the case and dips are the superior vertical pushing exercise.

**Barrington** · 19-01-2012 12:47 PM

Dips - Worth adding to routine?

I had a similar question a couple of weeks ago.

**asoe209** · 19-01-2012 01:14 PM

yeah i have never really done dips i did do them for a few weeks but was never sure it it was really hitting the triceps as much as the isolation movements. I don't feel the isolations are working for me, well they are i tell a lie there but 1 i think i could use a change in the exercise and 2 if it will help my chest at the same time then why not.

ill check out that link.... thanks

**James** · 19-01-2012 01:30 PM

Mind your elbows when dipping -- I used to train dips a lot and got very strong in them, but I found joint issues doing them for longer periods of time.

**asoe209** · 19-01-2012 01:34 PM

yeah I have head people say that its no good for your joints when done with weight as well.

**ben 21** · 20-01-2012 12:04 AM

no 1 tricep builder without a doubt. espeshilly with a dipping belt theres nothing quite like them. close grip bench, tricep dips and diamond push ups, if you got all them you have the secret to building great tri,s.

**Bison** · 20-01-2012 06:51 PM

Dips are a must for building big guns, along with chins there's not much better.

The closer your arms are to your body and having elbows bend straight back will focus the most on triceps. Having a wider grip and also flaring the elbows out will focus more on the pecs. Dips are a monster exercise for building the upper body.

**stavrog1** · 20-01-2012 07:10 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by Zeigler

You can hit your chest more by tucking your chin to your chest and putting your feet/legs out in front of you or bring your knees up infront of you, or if you want more tri's then make sure you dip completely upright. Remember that pulldowns and extensions are isolation and dips will enable hella more weight. Just use them as your main and do a few sets of pulldowns a week if you still need them.

Ring dips are even better, they're curently my main chest and tricep exercise and they hit shoulders hard (so do parallels too). In an ideal world everyone would be able to OHP correctly and without causing damage, IMO, this isnt the case and dips are the superior vertical pushing exercise.

I disagree with you on how to hit your chest more. From advice, and my own point of view, to hit the chest more you lean forwards and naturally your lower body goes back not forwards. Also agree with Bison about the flaring out of elbows and wider grip.

Agree with you on the ring dips though, they are TOUGH!!! I dip with 45kg added weight, but tried ring dips in the summer (can't at the moment as no rings at uni gym) and could manage only 6-8 with no weight!

**Zeigler** · 21-01-2012 09:07 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by stavrog1

I disagree with you on how to hit your chest more. From advice, and my own point of view, to hit the chest more you lean forwards and naturally your lower body goes back not forwards. Also agree with Bison about the flaring out of elbows and wider grip.

Agree with you on the ring dips though, they are TOUGH!!! I dip with 45kg added weight, but tried ring dips in the summer (can't at the moment as no rings at uni gym) and could manage only 6-8 with no weight!

Fair enough mate - maybe my description didnt do it justice, but this is the stuff I mean, one & two

Definitely agree with the way you describe hitting chest too - I just prefer the ones above