Bicep curls using EZ or straight barbell?

Nick+ · 07-10-2005, 02:36 PM

For many months I've been doing bicep curls using the EZ bar. I then read somewhere (maybe even on these forums) that a lot more of the bicep muscle is involved when curling with the straight bar......

So I changed back to the straight bar (not because I slavishly follow advice, I decided a change would be interesting.) All that happened is that I ended up with very painful wrists indeed...... (because of the different angle of the hands no doubt)

Three weeks of bicep curls with a straight barbell, seemed to have decreased bicep involvement- partly because my wrists were struggling(maybe?).....AND I've actually lost 2/8" of width in the upper arm, since changing to the straight bar......... (though other factors are involved as well)

This is my first post about training-- and I'm not to good about writing this sort of thing.........Any comments on this would be appreciated.

I've decided to stick to EZ bicep curls, because they work my biceps more.........that is my opinion.Any other advice would be welcomed.....

Nick

LAM · 07-10-2005, 02:54 PM

use which ever bar is the most comfortable to you that will allow you to use the most weight. I hardly ever do straight bar curls and have managed to get my arms to a very decent size

kicka19 · 07-10-2005, 04:23 PM

ya, i find straight bar curls put to much stress on my elbows and wrists, its not a fluid movement with sticking points it seems

Randy · 07-10-2005, 04:37 PM

I like using both straight bar and ez curl bar.
The straight bar works great for ultra wide grip curls.
I used to feel a bit more of a strain on my wrists with the straight bar.
But I seemed to overcome most of my wrist problems by strengthening them.

drew.haynes · 07-10-2005, 04:37 PM

I feel, on the contrary, that straight bar hits my biceps better. EZ bar also hurts my wrists.

Tough Old Man · 07-10-2005, 05:23 PM

I agree. I use both. One week I'll use an EZ curl bar and the next a straight bar. I do find that I can use more weight with the EZ curl bar

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAM

use which ever bar is the most comfortable to you that will allow you to use the most weight. I hardly ever do straight bar curls and have managed to get my arms to a very decent size

Nick+ · 07-10-2005, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy

I like using both straight bar and ez curl bar.
The straight bar works great for ultra wide grip curls.
I used to feel a bit more of a strain on my wrists with the straight bar.
But I seemed to overcome most of my wrist problems by strengthening them.

You say the straight bar works well with ultra wide grip. Maybe my mistake is using continously a shoulder width grip........(another bad habit , that I have seem to have caught from some damned book or website....)

Nick (hell it's 24 minutes past midnight I'd better hit the pillow)

MyK · 07-10-2005, 05:39 PM

listen to Randy, he is well known for his biceps on this message board!!!lol (sorry couldnt resist)

I use the straight bar for standing curls, my grip is slightly wider than shoulders
I use the EZ bar for preacher curls

Randy · 07-10-2005, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick+

You say the straight bar works well with ultra wide grip. Maybe my mistake is using continously a shoulder width grip........(another bad habit , that I have seem to have caught from some damned book or website....)

Nick (hell it's 24 minutes past midnight I'd better hit the pillow)

My straight bar wide consists of a 36" grip.

Randy · 07-10-2005, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyK

listen to Randy, he is well known for his biceps on this message board!!!lol (sorry couldnt resist)

I use the straight bar for standing curls, my grip is slightly wider than shoulders
I use the EZ bar for preacher curls

Starting from a 14", I have developed quit extensive biceps for being natural.
I do have some bodyfat as most dicks would try to push on me, but I can guarantee my biceps do not contain much fat. And if my biceps were 8 inches, would that mean that I could not post my suggestions and opinions here ... <Prick head> .

p.s. Post of picture of yourself before putting others down.
At least I have the balls to post my pictures to show my progress.

TJ Cline · 07-10-2005, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy

I like using both straight bar and ez curl bar.
The straight bar works great for ultra wide grip curls.
I used to feel a bit more of a strain on my wrists with the straight bar.
But I seemed to overcome most of my wrist problems by strengthening them.

Randy I really want to make an offensive comment at the expense of your last sentence but I fear I will be banned.....so just use your imagination...

MyK · 07-10-2005, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy

Starting from a 14", I have developed quit extensive biceps for being natural.
I do have some bodyfat as most dicks would try to push on me, but I can guarantee my biceps do not contain much fat. And if my biceps were 8 inches, would that mean that I could not post my suggestions and opinions here ... <Prick head> .

p.s. Post of picture of yourself before putting others down.
At least I have the balls to post my pictures to show my progress.

relax dude, I forgot how sensitive you were about your biceps. and don't call me a prick head, I guarantee you wouldn't call me one to my face!!

I have the balls to post a pic and I would, I just don't know how!!

Tough Old Man · 07-10-2005, 08:02 PM

Wow i just read all the reply's back and I'm not sure that the guy in questioned was trying to be negative. I read it as a compliment I think. Sorry Randy but I'm not sure whether you were right or wrong bro on the reply back to him. Lets all re group here and start over. I see Randy that you use a 36" wide grip and will myself give that i try during my next bicep workout

PT

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy

Starting from a 14", I have developed quit extensive biceps for being natural.
I do have some bodyfat as most dicks would try to push on me, but I can guarantee my biceps do not contain much fat. And if my biceps were 8 inches, would that mean that I could not post my suggestions and opinions here ... <Prick head> .

p.s. Post of picture of yourself before putting others down.
At least I have the balls to post my pictures to show my progress.

VipeR · 07-10-2005, 09:20 PM

Hmm.. I like using the straight barbell because it works out my wrist/forearm also..
Bur for preacher curls I tend to use the EZ bar

Randy · 07-11-2005, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyK

relax dude, I forgot how sensitive you were about your biceps. and don't call me a prick head, I guarantee you wouldn't call me one to my face!!

I have the balls to post a pic and I would, I just don't know how!!

If you don't want to be called a prick head or any other name for that matter then don't insult me.

As for being sensitive, I think anyone that is here in a bodybuilding forum looking for motivation to advance, and then receiving insulting comments about their physique would take offense to that. But I guess you are to stupid to realize it.

You can insult people, but don't have the brains to know how to post your own picture within your gallery.

Then you brag that I wouldn't say it to your face... Well if you were insulting me to my face, then I guarantee I wouldn't stand down.

Randy · 07-11-2005, 12:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tough Old Man

Wow i just read all the reply's back and I'm not sure that the guy in questioned was trying to be negative. I read it as a compliment I think. Sorry Randy but I'm not sure whether you were right or wrong bro on the reply back to him. Lets all re group here and start over. I see Randy that you use a 36" wide grip and will myself give that i try during my next bicep workout

PT

I remember a recent debate that was discussed regarding biceps.
Many of the veterens here had stated that the bicep has one insertion point. Because of that they believe that it doesn't matter which type of grip (close or wide) will affect any one part of the bicep.

Now I always believed that you could place emphasis on specific parts of the bicep based upon the type of grip or exercise. In other words the wide grip straight bar curls would place more emphasis on the inner bicep, where the close grip would affect the outer.

I still believe this to be true where others will dissagree. I don't want to open up this can of worms again, but thought I would mention it since we are talking about various grips. Now if indeed they are correct about that theory then at least by changing the grip will make your routing more interesting. I try to change my routines at minimum every 6 weeks.

ChrisROCK · 07-11-2005, 05:27 PM

Straight bar puts extreme stress on my wrists and forearms....hence i avoid them in my routines with any regularity. I'll do them occassionally for a change of pace. Do whatever feels good to you. If it hurts, don't do it...it's sure to cause problems from repeated use.

Randy · 07-11-2005, 05:28 PM

Hey Chris,

I see you have my girl posted in your sig

MyK · 07-11-2005, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Randy

If you don't want to be called a prick head or any other name for that matter then don't insult me.

As for being sensitive, I think anyone that is here in a bodybuilding forum looking for motivation to advance, and then receiving insulting comments about their physique would take offense to that. But I guess you are to stupid to realize it.

You can insult people, but don't have the brains to know how to post your own picture within your gallery.

Then you brag that I wouldn't say it to your face... Well if you were insulting me to my face, then I guarantee I wouldn't stand down.

sure dude. I didn't insult you!!! I simply alluded to when you got your bicep called a butter ball!!!

I thought you'd be over it by now, but I guess not.

I said I didn't know how to post my pic. the fact is, I've never tried. so how could I not have the brains too? was i suppose to be born with some innate ability to know how to post pics on the Internet.

let me help you out here, your comparing a learned skill to an innate ability which is pretty ufcking stupid!! now go do some curls!

drew.haynes · 07-11-2005, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyK

pretty ufcking stupid!!

I'm filled with a strange tingling sensation of irony when I read this..

SJ69 · 07-11-2005, 09:51 PM

I was doing heavy straight bar curls for a while, and they felt great, problem was after a while I had a pretty bad, nagging pain at my biceps insertion (biceps tendon). The pain wouldn't go away for months, I had to stop curling, now I just use the EZ Curl and dumbells and don't have any problems. I still do go heavy, sometimes 3-4 reps till failure.

Randy · 07-11-2005, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drew.haynes

I'm filled with a strange tingling sensation of irony when I read this..

Drew, it's funny you say that, it fills me with something too.

Oh and Myk, you're not even worth a reply.

TrojanMan60563 · 07-11-2005, 11:34 PM

I like to alternate from EZ-Curl bar and straight bar each workout...like EZ curl this time and nex bi day use the straight bar......if I don't do that then I will do like 3 sets of each....or if I only do one or the other I will do 5 sets. I think looking at it I prefer 3 sets of each...it hits the bis differently....my big issue with the straight bar is the painful wrists...I don't think its lack of knowing how to do them..its just my arms are not meant to bed like that.

Nick+ · 07-12-2005, 12:44 AM

Thanks for the advice. Will stick with EZ for the minute , as it lets me curl with more weight-and seems to involve the biceps -as much as the straight bar(in my case anyway). Might try the straight at some point with a wider grip....... And then there's all the dumbell curls possible, which I've also hardly ever done...........

I've got to get out of this habit of always doing 'shoulder width grip', I seem to be hypnotised by it, time to break away..........

KentDog · 07-12-2005, 02:29 AM

I like to do a couple of light sets of standing straight bar curls to start a bicep workout. When doing preacher curls, I always use the EZ-bar.

07-10-2005, 02:36 PM	#1
Nick+ Senior Member Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: *** Posts: 1,865 Photos: 1	Bicep curls using EZ or straight barbell? For many months I've been doing bicep curls using the EZ bar. I then read somewhere (maybe even on these forums) that a lot more of the bicep muscle is involved when curling with the straight bar...... So I changed back to the straight bar (not because I slavishly follow advice, I decided a change would be interesting.) All that happened is that I ended up with very painful wrists indeed...... (because of the different angle of the hands no doubt) Three weeks of bicep curls with a straight barbell, seemed to have decreased bicep involvement- partly because my wrists were struggling(maybe?).....AND I've actually lost 2/8" of width in the upper arm, since changing to the straight bar......... (though other factors are involved as well) This is my first post about training-- and I'm not to good about writing this sort of thing.........Any comments on this would be appreciated. I've decided to stick to EZ bicep curls, because they work my biceps more.........that is my opinion.Any other advice would be welcomed..... Nick

07-10-2005, 02:54 PM	#2
LAM Gym ratt/Part-time pimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 7,384 Photos: 2	use which ever bar is the most comfortable to you that will allow you to use the most weight. I hardly ever do straight bar curls and have managed to get my arms to a very decent size
	Dumbest statement made in the Anabolic Zone for Nov TBD ----------------------------------------------------- What you talking about Willis ?

07-10-2005, 04:37 PM	#4
Randy Woof! Woof! Woof! Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: California Posts: 7,859 Photos: 4	I like using both straight bar and ez curl bar. The straight bar works great for ultra wide grip curls. I used to feel a bit more of a strain on my wrists with the straight bar. But I seemed to overcome most of my wrist problems by strengthening them.
	- O F F I C I A L . L I N K . M A S T E R - Maintains a Reference to all Gopros P/RR/S Links Gopros latest routines: CLICK HERE Lift like a Chicken Look Like a Chicken

07-10-2005, 04:37 PM	#5
drew.haynes Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Tulsa, OK, USA Posts: 603	I feel, on the contrary, that straight bar hits my biceps better. EZ bar also hurts my wrists.
	195 @ 10% B/S/D:320/385/445

07-11-2005, 05:27 PM	#17
ChrisROCK ///M Rider Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Southern NYS Posts: 793 Photos: 5	Straight bar puts extreme stress on my wrists and forearms....hence i avoid them in my routines with any regularity. I'll do them occassionally for a change of pace. Do whatever feels good to you. If it hurts, don't do it...it's sure to cause problems from repeated use.
	Maximus: "What we do in life, echoes in eternity." http://kandeecup.tripod.com/gif "Success does not necessarily mean advancement;... it refers to the accomplishment or sense of achievement one obtains from trying one's best... I...enjoy the process of become stronger and more muscular."

07-10-2005, 04:23 PM	#3
kicka19 the true playboy Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,777	ya, i find straight bar curls put to much stress on my elbows and wrists, its not a fluid movement with sticking points it seems

07-10-2005, 05:39 PM	#8
MyK Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: consumerville! Posts: 10,201 Photos: 1	listen to Randy, he is well known for his biceps on this message board!!!lol (sorry couldnt resist) I use the straight bar for standing curls, my grip is slightly wider than shoulders I use the EZ bar for preacher curls

07-10-2005, 09:20 PM	#14
VipeR On a constant bulk Elite Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jax,FL Posts: 131 Photos: 2	Hmm.. I like using the straight barbell because it works out my wrist/forearm also.. Bur for preacher curls I tend to use the EZ bar

07-11-2005, 05:28 PM	#18
Randy Woof! Woof! Woof! Elite Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: California Posts: 7,859 Photos: 4	Hey Chris, I see you have my girl posted in your sig Last edited by Randy : 07-12-2005 at 02:41 AM.
	- O F F I C I A L . L I N K . M A S T E R - Maintains a Reference to all Gopros P/RR/S Links Gopros latest routines: CLICK HERE Lift like a Chicken Look Like a Chicken

07-11-2005, 09:51 PM	#21
SJ69 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Philly Posts: 1,026 Photos: 1	I was doing heavy straight bar curls for a while, and they felt great, problem was after a while I had a pretty bad, nagging pain at my biceps insertion (biceps tendon). The pain wouldn't go away for months, I had to stop curling, now I just use the EZ Curl and dumbells and don't have any problems. I still do go heavy, sometimes 3-4 reps till failure.
	"I don't like small cars or real big women, but somehow I always find myself in 'em" - KR

07-11-2005, 11:34 PM	#23
TrojanMan60563 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: The U-S of A Posts: 2,995 Photos: 1	I like to alternate from EZ-Curl bar and straight bar each workout...like EZ curl this time and nex bi day use the straight bar......if I don't do that then I will do like 3 sets of each....or if I only do one or the other I will do 5 sets. I think looking at it I prefer 3 sets of each...it hits the bis differently....my big issue with the straight bar is the painful wrists...I don't think its lack of knowing how to do them..its just my arms are not meant to bed like that.

07-12-2005, 12:44 AM	#24
Nick+ Senior Member Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: *** Posts: 1,865 Photos: 1	Thanks for the advice. Will stick with EZ for the minute , as it lets me curl with more weight-and seems to involve the biceps -as much as the straight bar(in my case anyway). Might try the straight at some point with a wider grip....... And then there's all the dumbell curls possible, which I've also hardly ever done........... I've got to get out of this habit of always doing 'shoulder width grip', I seem to be hypnotised by it, time to break away..........

07-12-2005, 02:29 AM	#25
KentDog College Grad Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,874 Photos: 3	I like to do a couple of light sets of standing straight bar curls to start a bicep workout. When doing preacher curls, I always use the EZ-bar.