Exercise library

Biceps · Dumbbell

Hammer Curl

Difficulty

Beginner

Sets

3–4

Reps

10–15

Equipment

Dumbbell

Target muscles

Primary Biceps

Secondary: Forearms

Variations

  • · Tempo Hammer Curl
  • · Paused Hammer Curl
  • · Single-arm/side Hammer Curl

Proper form

  1. 01 Lock the joint above the working muscle to keep tension where it belongs.
  2. 02 Take the target muscle through its full available range.
  3. 03 Squeeze at the peak-contraction position for a beat.
  4. 04 Control the eccentric — roughly two seconds down.

Common mistakes

  • × Using momentum to swing the weight.
  • × Half-repping to chase load.
  • × Losing joint alignment as fatigue builds.

Tips

  • Use isolation to accumulate volume with low systemic cost.
  • Cycle rep ranges every 4–6 weeks (8–12, 12–15, 15–20).
  • Pair antagonist muscles in supersets to save time.

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