Barbell Curl

Primary muscle group
Biceps
Equipment
Barbell
Movement type
Isolation
Where
Gym

How to do Barbell Curl

Setup

Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding a barbell with an underhand grip at arm's length against your thighs. Keep your elbows close to your sides and chest up.

How to do it

  1. Curl the bar upward by bending at the elbows while keeping your upper arms stationary
  2. Squeeze your biceps hard at the top position when the bar reaches shoulder height
  3. Lower the bar slowly and with control back to the starting position
  4. Keep your wrists straight throughout the entire movement
  5. Avoid moving your elbows forward or backward during the curl

Watch out for

  • Swinging the torso or using momentum to lift the weight instead of isolating the biceps
  • Letting the elbows drift forward as you curl, which reduces bicep tension
  • Dropping the weight quickly on the way down instead of controlling the descent

Learn more on ExRx.net →

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