Thread: I have small calves

i suffer the same malady. i've found heavy weights, low reps have given me the best growth, yet minimal to other muscle groups.

me too. one thing i'm finally getting used to is that training calves really hurts (in a way totally different than other muscle). when the pain starts and i think i can't stand it - i keep going and have found i can stand it and they're finally starting to grow.

i wouldn't say they're small...they have to grow a bit more before i call them small. but they were invisible and i'm starting to see progress.

Use a combination of high and low reps, alternating between the two weekly.

Also,make sure to stretch the calf during each rep, and to get a good contraction at the top of the exercise.

Too many people load up the machine with a ton of weight, thinking the heavy weight will increase calf size,then they have a tendency to do half-reps, or bobbing type reps ,never acheiving a good stretch, or peak contraction.

A lot of people also tack on calf training at the end of a workout, and do 3-4 half-hearted sets,kind of like an afterthought .

Train the calves heavy and hard for 10 sets, with a complete range of motion once a week.

I like to do calves three times a week. First and second workout heavy 4-10 rep range.

The third workout I do to failure 10-20 rep range.