

Sets of 8-12 reps, 12-15 reps or even 15-20 reps with a lighter load can all be used to build muscle. The hammer curl is a variation of the classic dumbbell curl, where you hold the dumbbells in a neutral grip. In most cases, you’re better off using relatively light weights, and a smooth, controlled lifting speed.
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Instead, focus on proper form, using a full range of motion. The muscles involved in this exercise are relatively small, so you don’t need to use a heavy weight. As you can see in the video above, it’s normal for there to be a small amount of elbow movement as you complete each rep. Pause briefly at the top, before lowering the dumbbell under control to the starting position.ĭon’t worry about keeping the elbow stationary. Slowly curl the weight across your body towards the left shoulder.ĭuring each rep, your wrists should remain in a neutral position, as if you were holding a hammer and preparing to hammer a nail into a plank of wood. Twist your upper body slightly, so your right shoulder comes forward and your left shoulder moves back. Stand with your feet roughly shoulder width apart and a dumbbell in your right hand, using a neutral grip position (palms facing you).
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How to Do Cross Body Hammer Curls: Proper FormĪlthough you can do cross body curls with two dumbbells, alternating from one side to the other, I prefer to train one arm at a time.

Like the biceps and brachialis, brachioradialis helps to flex, or bend, the elbow. The cross body hammer curl also works the forearm muscles, specifically a muscle that sits on top of your forearm known as brachioradialis. Keeping your elbows tucked, your upper arms locked in place (only your hands and forearms should move), and your palms. Brachialis sits between the biceps and triceps An unanticipated problem was encountered, check back soon and try again Stand holding a pair of dumbbells at arms length by your sides with your palms facing inward. You’ve got the biceps on top, the triceps on the bottom, with the brachialis sitting between the two. You can see what a well developed brachialis looks like in the image below. With cross body curls, you’re targeting primarily the long head of the biceps, along with a small muscle found just underneath the biceps, known as brachialis. The long head is found on the outside of the arm. So that's the primary focus of the hammer curl. If you look down at your biceps, the short head is found on the inside of your arm, near your body. With a hammer curl, you're focusing more on the width of your bicep in your forearm. The palms of the hands should be facing your. The biceps brachii is a muscle made up of two heads, the short head and the long head. Hammer Curls Instructions Stand up with your torso upright and a dumbbell on each hand being held at arms length. However, any difference between the two exercises in terms of their ability to stimulate growth in the arms is likely to be small, and you should pick the one that feels like it’s working the target muscles the hardest.
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To get a FREE copy of the cheat sheet emailed to you, please click or tap here. This is a quick guide to building muscle, which you can read online or keep as a PDF, that shows you exactly how to put on muscle. For instance, you can perform the exercise sitting down on a bench with or without back support and you can also perform it by alternating arms first lift the right arm for one repetition, then the left, then the right, etc.FREE: The Muscle Building Cheat Sheet. Variations: There are many possible variations for this movement. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.After the brief pause, inhale and slowly begin the lower the dumbbells back down to the starting position.Tip: Focus on keeping the elbow stationary and only moving your forearm. Hold the contracted position for a brief moment as you squeeze the biceps. Continue to raise the weight until the biceps are fully contracted and the dumbbell is at shoulder level. Bodybuilders should use the hammer curl in their training programs to increase arm.

