Preacher Curl vs. Seated Curl vs. Standing Dumbell Curl

suemar74

Do they target different muscles, or do they all basically achieve the same result? I have a preacher curl attachment on my weight bench that I have never used...should I, if I'm already doing the other two? (mainly seated)

JasonDetwiler

They make the same muscles work in different ways.

suemar74

So it would be beneficial to do all three, but maybe not all in one day?

taso42

there are better uses of your time than doing curls...

qballjr13

I would just tweak that a little bit. Obviously the bicep is two muscles. If you change the seated to incline, I think that would help. I do like preachers because they focus to much on just the bicep.

mhotch

I use a computer generated workout , that changes each time I use it. The program has me doing all three, on different days throughout the month.

ArroganceInStep

there are better uses of your time than doing curls...

Come now, vanity lifts aren't all bad.

But if you're trying to figure out the precise difference between 18 different types of curls, you're likely doing it wrong.

Try them out, figure out which one feels best, and do that one.

I do standing barbell curls and rolling db tricep extensions for my arms because those feel the best for me. It shouldn't take that much time and it's not going to matter that much between one or the other.

crobl

there are better uses of your time than doing curls...

Amen

obsidianwings

I like to switch it up occasionally, the same with the rest of my workout really. I quite like preacher curls so I would give them a go if I were you, i'm not a big fan of concentration curls.

JasonDetwiler

So it would be beneficial to do all three, but maybe not all in one day?

It depends on your goals and your current state.

rmhand

Preacher curls will build the part of your bicep closest to your elbow. Standing curls require more stability muscle recruitment. Seated curls allow you to focus more on the bicep muscle. All are good.

Bumdrahp

I like loose curls, they look the best on me.

The_Angry_Fish_Guy

Dumb-bell curls and Dumb-bell Hammer curls. targets both parts. Boom easy.

JustJennie1

there are better uses of your time than doing curls...

What's wrong with doing curls?

taso42

there are better uses of your time than doing curls...

What's wrong with doing curls?

Nothing. I said there are better uses of [a beginner's] time than doing curls. Not that curls are wrong as such.

obsidianwings

I have recently started doing spider curls to, quite like them

JustJennie1

there are better uses of your time than doing curls...

What's wrong with doing curls?

Nothing. I said there are better uses of [a beginner's] time than doing curls. Not that curls are wrong as such.

Why wouldn't a beginner do curls though? I'm honestly curious since it makes zero sense to me.

obsidianwings

I assume we are talking about the debate of compound vs isolation lifting. Most people suggest you start with compound, so no curls generally. I have only just started doing curls after about 7 months of compound lifting.

taso42

there are better uses of your time than doing curls...

What's wrong with doing curls?

Nothing. I said there are better uses of [a beginner's] time than doing curls. Not that curls are wrong as such.

Why wouldn't a beginner do curls though? I'm honestly curious since it makes zero sense to me.

It's a bang-for-the-buck thing. Curls are a fine add-on if the rest of the training program is sound. As mentioned above, they're a vanity exercise. They don't build much functional strength; they just help build your biceps, which looks nice in a t-shirt or on the beach.

To make a crude analogy, picture building a house from scratch. You can budget in nice things like heated floors and home automation controls; but in order of importance, the foundation, roof, and water drainage are higher up on the list.

Admiral_Derp

They make a good side dish rather than a staple.

JustJennie1

there are better uses of your time than doing curls...

What's wrong with doing curls?

Nothing. I said there are better uses of [a beginner's] time than doing curls. Not that curls are wrong as such.

Why wouldn't a beginner do curls though? I'm honestly curious since it makes zero sense to me.

It's a bang-for-the-buck thing. Curls are a fine add-on if the rest of the training program is sound. As mentioned above, they're a vanity exercise. They don't build much functional strength; they just help build your biceps, which looks nice in a t-shirt or on the beach.

To make a crude analogy, picture building a house from scratch. You can budget in nice things like heated floors and home automation controls; but in order of importance, the foundation, roof, and water drainage are higher up on the list.

Gotcha.

ETA: You forgot walls. Those are important too LOL.

taso42

Gotcha.

ETA: You forgot walls. Those are important too LOL.

I'm big on those "open floor plans" :bigsmile:

REDROBE_69

I work all three.

DavPul

Uh oh. Somebody just came on the all power lifting Site that is mfp and asked for curling advice? He must be new here

suemar74

Uh oh. Somebody just came on the all power lifting Site that is mfp and asked for curling advice? He must be new here

Or she's just new to the knowledgeable side of lifting and was curious, and knew she could get a variety of answers to choose from, in one spot, rather than run all over Google to find that same variety. See...not THAT new here

I appreciate everyone's input. Yes, they are a vanity thing, for me, at least. I have noticed that the bicep seems to show the fastest and most noticeable results. I like feeling them and knowing they're there. It keeps me going. And I have a shallow side.

It also keeps me lifting for about five more minutes instead of plopping my *kitten* in front of the television. That's good, right?

Thanks again, everyone!

Gallowmere1984

Meh, I just do barbell curls (not in the squat rack) and dumbbell hammer curls. I see little need for going all kinds of goofy with curls, given how much the biceps are used in various rows, pull ups, etc. Might just be me.

jimmie65

I've tried to work some vanity curls into my routine (who doesn't want bigger biceps) but unless I do them as a part of a complex, they're kind of boring.

Gallowmere1984

I've tried to work some vanity curls into my routine (who doesn't want bigger biceps) but unless I do them as a part of a complex, they're kind of boring.

I like to superset barbell curls with bench press and hammer curls with DB skullcrushers. Definitely makes them more interesting...and exhausting.

jimmie65

I like to superset barbell curls with bench press and hammer curls with DB skullcrushers. Definitely makes them more interesting...and exhausting.

I like the curls with the bench press - I think I'll try incorporating that into my volume work.