Biceps - Curls

[Stixs]

Is there a big difference in using a straight bar as opposed to an EZ- Curl bar when doing curls. I have been using the EZ Bar but when you see articles about arms they always seem to be using a straight bar.

Thanks

[BBAddict]

The angle of your wrists affects exactly what part of the muscle feels the most tension/stress from the weight. Obviously people do hammer curls to "isolate" or focus more stress on the brachialis, whereas you also do dumbell curls with the fat part of the wrist facing you (supinated) to "isolate" the primary head, the biceps brachii. So, you can imagine that depending on the degree to which your wrists are angled, you are going to distribute the stress differently between the different parts of the bicep. Straight bar curls are generally viewed as a great mass building exercise for the primary bicep muscle. The EZ curl bar definitely takes some stress off of the wrists so it's easier for some people, and it will distribute the stress of the weight over the different muscles in the bicep more than a straight bar.
BTW, don't pay attention too much to magazines and the pics in there. That's marketing material and depending on the magazine you can get really screwed up following what they say.

[Stixs]

Hey BBAdict,

Thanks much for the response. I have been doing EZ bar and wanted to know if I would get more out of straight bar. I guess I should probably switch up every now and then.

[BBAddict]

Yeah, I would definitely work in some straight bar curls. It is usually the first thing I do in a bicep workout.

[Taylor]

using a straight bar hurts my forearms...i just use a ez curl bar or olympic curl bar and sometimes i grip it wide, sometimes i bring my hands very close together

i'm on a forearm routine for the next month or so tho and my whole arms are pretty much cooked so i've been just doing a couple sets of DB curls to knock my biceps out

[Stixs]

Taylor thanks for info, quick question for you. With the EZ curl bar do you find there is a big difference between using the inner grips as opposed to the outer grips. I have been using the outer(wider).

Thanks

[bigfish]

i get better results from straight bar by far that is in bulking.

[Stonecold54]

use what is comfortable for your body. people get to involved in the technical stuff. If you can get a good contraction out of an exercise then use it in a routine for 6 weeks. then pick another one. and please don't do more than 3 sets for biceps. They don't need it.