Increasing with dumbbells

I recently starting doing DB incline bench press. Last week I did 12 reps with a 25 lb dumbbell in each hand, which meant that this week I should have increased to 30 lb DBs. But when I tried with those, I couldn't do even one press, so I guess the increase of 5 lbs per hand is too much for me. What can I do between the 25s and the 30s to get myself ready for the 30s? Should I just keep doing more reps with the 25s until I can lift the 30s?

Did you try the 30lb presses first in your routine? Or after you had done other exercises?

Did you try the 30lb presses first in your routine? Or after you had done other exercises?

All I had done before them were squats and calf presses, so they were my first upper body exercise.

I think you just had a bad day. The increase is not too high, you should be able to do a few reps.

Maybe it felt too heavy. Sometimes a weight feels very heavy for me but i can still lift it.

Or perhaps your regeneration is not balanced with your workout - doing too much or not enough.

I agree with Daywalker, it was probably mental, because if you did 3x12 at only 5 lb less per hand, you should be able to knock out at least a few.

I am the same way when squatting, I walk out with the weight on my back and it feels heavy, but then I squat and pop it back up like nothing.