Seated Calf raise

[T_man]

My gym doesn't have either a calf raise machine or seated calf raise machine. I use the smith machine/leg press sled as substitutes for normal calf raises but what can I do for the seated ones?

 

[FMJ]

Though not nearly as effective as a calf machine, I used to put a couple 45 plates on my lap with feet on a stepper stool and do them off that. Wrap the plates in a towel first though, not so much for your legs but to keep the plates from slipping off each other.

 

[Phineas]

Though not nearly as effective as a calf machine, I used to put a couple 45 plates on my lap with feet on a stepper stool and do them off that. Wrap the plates in a towel first though, not so much for your legs but to keep the plates from slipping off each other.

I also tried this, but it didn't work very well.

I also tried using the smith for seated. I let the bar rest on my lower quads and used that piece of wood for the extensions but my gym has one of those god damn sissy smith machines that carry momentum (don't know how) so when you lift up it goes flying up as if it's a gas-pressured machine. Get what I mean? My old gym has a rusted old-school smith and when u lifted it and dropped it the bar would fall as if no resistance. On the current one if you drop even just the bar with no weight it will lower slowly. It seems to take some of the pressure off on lighter weights, and thus didn't work for the seated calf.

My gym has a seated calf, but it's designed TERRIBLY. The foot rests are not only angled horizontally (rather than being straight out -- 90 degrees from the seat -- they're angled at like 75..they're also angled vertically. So, rather than a flat surface from which to extend (as is ALWAYS the case with calves) it's dipping towards me. Also, the rest pads for your quads, which should be directly above your feet for direct, comfortable pressure, are about 8 inches back from most machines. So, basically, my feet and legs are in this very awkward, inefficient position. My feet will even slip off of it.

This is terrible cause I would like to be able to do bent-knee calf work, but the seated calf machine seems to be the only way to do this.

I would love to hear some innovative ways to train calfs with bent-legs.

 

[FMJ]

I also tried this, but it didn't work very well.

Nope. Doesn't work well at all. Can't support enough weight on my knee caps to get a good calf workout, but it's better than nothing. Ya gotta do like 50 reps to have it even be worth it.

 

[Meudi]

Suggestion

These machines are pretty common. If your gym doesnt have them, I would seriously suggest finding a new gym. If they dont even have correct calf machines, god knows what else they dont have.

 

[T_man]

yea I tried the plate thing and I just cant load enough weight on my knees for it to be effective. There are no pad-like things either to cushion the weight.

 

[Hoglander]

You should strike up a conversation with a cute girl about the the gym not having one. Then talk about what you tried. Ask her if she wouldn't mind sitting on your knees. Try that.

 

[FMJ]

You should strike up a conversation with a cute girl about the the gym not having one. Then talk about what you tried. Ask her if she wouldn't mind sitting on your knees. Try that.

Shame on you T man for not thinking of that yourself!!

 

[Perdido]

You should strike up a conversation with a cute girl about the the gym not having one. Then talk about what you tried. Ask her if she wouldn't mind sitting on your knees. Try that.

You've got reps for that one!

 

[verybigguy]

I guess training calfes sucks anyway. I mean there is no functional advantage in training calfes

 

[T_man]

I don't mind assisting a cute female with donkey calf raises

 

[T_man]

I guess training calfes sucks anyway. I mean there is no functional advantage in training calfes

Yes there is. Transfer of power through the legs efficiently. Especially for jumping, as I do basketball and I'm trying to increase my vert.

 

[Doublebase]

bump.