When doing barbell curls is form important?

[BradCKY]

When doing curls is form important?

Well see I kept upping the weight on my dumbbell curls (I've just been for a month) anyway I started going to 30 on each on arm but I had to lean back and I had no form, plus I wasn't feeling that same effect on my muscles the next day.

So the other day I went back down to 25 and not only could I go alot father, but I felt the DOMS finally.

So my question is, is it better to go with the highest weight you can as long you can keep form?

 

[Burner02]

hey bud-
yeah...if you cannot properly handle a weight, you are not doing yourself any good.
Keep the weight where you can do it correctly, with out swinging it, cheating it. Later on, when you understand what a correct 'cheat' is, you an do that, but if you are new, stay with correct form and do it correctly

 

[perfecto]

wat exactly is a correct cheat?

 

[nikegurl]

i would honestly say that form is always extrememly important. sounds simplistic but it's true. it sounds like you felt it for yourself when you lowered the weight and cleaned up your form.

 

[HoldDaMayo]

weight is for ego...

form is for results..

 

[Burner02]

Originally posted by perfecto
wat exactly is a correct cheat?

maybe not the best way of wording it.
We are talking about curls here.
Say if the last couple reps of your set.(that you have been doing correctly) you can use a little swing to help get the weight up. Or, also on the last couple reps..you swing the weight up and do negatives on the way down....

But in general, you do not want to cheat...make sense?

 

[buffed]

Very important!!!
If you wanna use really heavy weights and cheat, cheat only for the last one or two reps. Thats alright, but for the rest of the reps, PROPER FORM is very important. Leave your ego at home, dont bring it to the gym.

 

[BradCKY]

Also I am wondering if you had this problem when you started out. When left arm is MUCH weaker than my right arm, and I am now sticking to between 15-20.

Since I don't have a dumbbell here (I use the little apartment gym downstairs) Should I keep doing 25 on my right arm without trying go any further, until I build my left arm to even strength?

 

[Burner02]

do you have bar bells?
Distribute the weight evenly?
I would use the same weights that you can use for both arms...

 

[BradCKY]

Well I'm kinda new at this, I think a barbell is for one arm correct?? if so thats what I'm using, though I plan on subscribing to a full gym soon.

 

[Burner02]

you have it backwards:
Barbell = both hands [-----------------------]
Dumb bell: = Single Hand: [--]

Like the art?


Might I also suggest hiring a personal trainer for a few weeks to show you how to use the weights, set up a program, etc?

 

[BradCKY]

yea I need a trainer I guess, cause although I built some muscle I really don't know how to keep going the right way (which is why I searched for this site) lol.

 

[Burner02]

You mentioned that you are going to start up at a gym? When you sign up, most will show you around and let you go with a trainer to get familiar with the equipment. There are some very knowlegable people gere that can help you out, but you also need to know proper form, techniques, etc...

 

[Arnold]

Re: When doing curls is form important?

Originally posted by BradCKY
So my question is, is it better to go with the highest weight you can as long you can keep form?

Yes, use the heaviest weight (4-12 rep range) and maintain form.

Form is always your number one priority, sure a little cheat rep here and there is okay at the end of a set, but never compromise form for heavier weights, that leads to injury.

 

[vanity]

Without good form you're nothing.