She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002. Bend forward and brace the back of your right elbow against the inside of your right knee, with your right palm facing inward. 12-15 reps are the ideal range for hammer curls,” he told me. Research source. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002. Pause, and then reverse the movement to return to the starting position. The brachialis and brachioradialis work with your biceps to flex your elbow. Use a heavier weight. This article was co-authored by Michele Dolan. Due to the angle of the weight against gravity, "many people are able to curl more weight with a neutral grip during a hammer curl, than during a traditional bicep curl," she says. The dumbbell hammer curl increases strength and size in the biceps and forearms. Step 2: Contract your biceps to curl the weight forward. [1] Muscles Targeted: Hammer dumbbell curls primarily target the biceps brachii (2 headed muscle of the upper arm) brachioradialis (forearms) and the brachialis (front of the upper arm).The secondary muscle groups targeted include the anterior deltoids, and to a lesser … “The only rule is to regularly change how you perform the exercise to avoid hitting a strength plateau.”. Keep in control of using your own strength, not using momentum or gravity. Bend forward and brace the back of your right elbow against the inside of your right knee, with your right palm facing inward. This article was co-authored by Michele Dolan. 2. Hold this position throughout the exercise. However, the curl movement will pump blood to the area, giving your tendonitis needed nutrients to recover. The hammer curl is a very similar movement to the regular bicep curl, however the weight is continually held in a neutral grip, without the typical … Because strong biceps don’t just look good, they also make everyday tasks — like lifting heavy grocery bags and carrying little tykes — a lot easier. I like to keep the weights low and the reps high with hammer curls. Injuries to your back, shoulders, and elbows can occur if this exercise is performed incorrectly. People with elbow problems should not use this exercise. Preparation. Don't push yourself to lift a dumbbell that causes strain, especially if you suffer from back problems. The dumbbells should rest next to your thighs and your elbows should be straight. Michele Dolan is a BCRPA certified Personal Trainer in British Columbia. Step 1: To begin barbell curls, stand up straight while holding a barbell in a shoulder-width grip. Most weight-lifters focus on their biceps when working their arms; however, there are other important muscles when it comes to building up your arms. She writes for a variety of companies and publications, including Men’s Health, MyFitnessPal, Everyday Health, and BlueCross BlueShield. Pause, and then slowly lower the weights back to the starting position. Perform the movement with a controlled pace, not allowing momentum to contribute. The brachialis and brachioradialis work with your biceps to flex your elbow. Don't strain yourself. Because heavier weight usually translates to greater muscle growth , hammer curls may actually result in faster arm gains. For beginners, 1 or 2 sets of eight to 12 reps is recommended. There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. An Olympic barbell weighs 45 lbs. Switch things up by incorporating hammer curl variations into your routine: seated hammer curls (curling both weights at once or one at a time, as described above), incline hammer curls (lie face-up on a bench set to a 45-degree incline, letting your arms hang to the side), and cross body hammer curls (alternately curling each dumbbell to the opposite shoulder). Hammer Curl Guide. The Hammer Curl. Here’s a break down of how to do hammer curls properly, as well as tips for adding the move to your workout routine, and multiple reasons why everyone — including you — should be doing it. The hammer curl is a popular weight training exercise to develop the biceps muscle. Take dumbbell hammer curls as an example of a potent variation on the classic move. X Do not simply allow the dumbbell to drop back to your side, as this does not exercise your muscles. Beyond the hammer curl make sure that concentration curls are on your agenda. How to do it: Instead of doing a bicep curl with a dumbbell, use a weight plate and grab it by its end. For more advanced lifters, do 3 sets of 12 reps. $59.89 $ 59. This article has been viewed 118,353 times. “Doing different variations of any exercise, including the biceps curl, will help optimize your training adaptations,” says Trevor Thieme, C.S.C.S., Openfit’s senior manager of fitness and nutrition content. Do 5 – 6 sets of 4 – 8 reps; if you can do more, use a heavier plate. Hammer Strength's rugged performance strength training equipment is the most durable on the market and is designed to withstand the most intense workouts. Trainer’s Tips. Save 5% on 2 select item(s) $9.99 shipping. The only hammer curl equipment that you really need is the following: dumbbells. Cable machines and kettlebells can also be used. Start at your highest dumbbell weight and go all the way down to some hammer curls with 5lbers. Most weight-lifters focus on their biceps when working their arms; however, there are other important muscles when it comes to building up your arms. #2: Seated Incline Hammer Curl Another similar exercise to the seated incline dumbbell curl, this time round, the palms are facing inwards and your wrist in neutral position. Our portfolio of equipment also includes heavy-duty racks and rigs, benches, selectorized equipment, and a wide variety of accessories for endless training possibilities. Conversely, reverse curls leave you at the mercy of the wrist extensors which will always be significantly weaker than the wrist flexors. Rope Hammer Curl: Involves standing straight up and holding a rope attachment secured to a low pulley. Classic biceps curls are a great way to exercise your arms, but to switch things up and accelerate your results, don’t limit yourself to them. If you feel this occurring, you may need to consider lighter dumbbells. Pause and then lower the dumbbells back to the starting position. Bend your elbows and bring the weights up, until the dumbbells are at shoulder level. During this exercise, the brachialis acts as a synergist , allowing you to curl the weight up toward the shoulder. They weight of the dumbbell depends on your arm strength. There are however many different hammer curl variations that you can try out that may require different types of hammer curl … Position two dumbbells to sides, palms facing in, arms straight. Hammer curls are a great and easy way to work these muscles along with your biceps, adding strength, definition, and size. Pause at the top and squeeze your biceps, then lower the weights back down to the starting position. She lives in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, with her husband and their three dogs. To make this exercise less challenging you can use lighter dumbbells. Hammer Curl Variations. Make no mistake, the bicep and hammer curl work the same muscles since both are necessary for elbow flexion. Lower it slowly, keeping control over it the whole way down. Raise and lower the dumbbell slowly. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By switching from an underhand grip to a neutral grip, you shift more the work from your biceps (also known as biceps brachii) to two other elbow flexors: the brachialis and brachioradialis. Barre is a great workout, but when it comes to building strength it may also work for that. Use a heavier weight. People with back problems should do it sitting down, ideally with back support of some kind. Your upper arms should remain stationary during this process. Tengma 34" Barbell Solid Olympic Chrome Tricep Hammer Curl Fitness Gym Weight Bar Home Gym Weightlifting Exercise Training Bars Powerlifting and Crossfit Capacity 200 LBS,Shipping from US. 9. The brachialis runs beneath your biceps brachii, and the brachioradialis runs from the bottom of your upper arm to the bottom of your forearm. The hammer curl… Alternate Hammer Curl Mistakes to Avoid . Some people prefer instead to do this exercise while sitting on a bench, feet on either side. Cross Body Hammer Curl: Performed in the same way as the basic hammer curl except that you curl the weight in your left arm toward the right shoulder and vice versa. Secondary Muscles: Brachialis, brachioradialis. Keeping the rest of your body still, curl the weight toward your shoulder. Starting Position: Stand holding dumbbells in your hands with a closed, neutral grip (thumbs around the handles with your palms facing your body). Here is how you... Dips are an effective way to activate the triceps in your upper arm while activating your core to hold your... We've rounded up some of the most effective exercises to improve grip strength and help stimulate muscle gr... Building your upper body takes hard work. https://weighttraining.guide/exercises/dumbbell-hammer-curl Weights Used for Hammer Curls vs. Barbell Curls. Otherwise, you’re just wasting your time and putting yourself at risk for injury. Curling too fast. Alternate Hammer Curl Muscles Worked . If you've ever followed along with one of Medwin's live classes, you know he delivers a high-energy workout. Be sure to keep a straight back, pulling the dumbbells up only with your arms, and to keep your elbows close to your side. Last Updated: September 5, 2019 Trust me, those 5lb dumbbells will feel oddly heavy. 3. Note that you can either lift both dumbbells at the same time, or alternate between arms, raising and lowering 1 dumbbell and then the other. 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