Biceps · Barbell

EZ-Bar Reverse Grip Curl

Flip your grip and blast the forearms and outer biceps.

EZ-Bar Reverse Grip Curl exercise demonstration
BicepsSecondary: ForearmsBarbell

How to do it

  1. Grab an EZ-bar with an overhand grip on the angled sections.
  2. Stand tall, elbows pinned to your sides.
  3. Curl the bar up keeping your knuckles facing the ceiling.
  4. Lower slowly to a full stretch.

The one cue that matters

Keep your wrists locked straight, don't let them bend back under the load.

Muscles worked

Curling with an overhand grip forces the muscles along the top of your forearm to do work the palms-up grip lets them dodge, while the biceps assist from a mechanical disadvantage. The bar ends up lighter than your usual curls and the lower arm works harder than it ever has. If your forearms and grip lag behind your biceps, this is the corrective.

FAQ

Reverse curls or hammer curls for forearms?

Hammer curls use the stronger neutral grip and allow more load, reverse curls hit the top of the forearm hardest through full pronation. They stack well together rather than replacing each other.

Why use an EZ-bar for reverse curls instead of a straight bar?

Full pronation on a straight bar is rough on many wrists. The EZ-bar's angles split the difference, keeping the overhand bias while letting the joint sit at a friendlier angle.

What rep range suits reverse curls?

Moderate to high reps with strict control. The move punishes heavy sloppy sets by shifting strain onto the wrists, so chase the forearm burn rather than a loading record.

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