Exercise Comparison
Barbell Curl vs Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls




Side-by-Side
Muscle Analysis
Shared
Only in Barbell Curl
Instructions
Barbell Curl
Stand up with your torso upright while holding a barbell at a shoulder-width grip. The palm of your hands should be facing forward and the elbows should be close to the torso. This will be your starting position.
While holding the upper arms stationary, curl the weights forward while contracting the biceps as you breathe out. Tip: Only the forearms should move.
Continue the movement until your biceps are fully contracted and the bar is at shoulder level. Hold the contracted position for a second and squeeze the biceps hard.
Slowly begin to bring the bar back to starting position as your breathe in.
Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls
Hold the dumbbell towards the side farther from you so that you have more weight on the side closest to you. (This can be done for a good effect on all bicep dumbbell exercises). Now do a normal incline dumbbell curl, but keep your wrists as far back as possible so as to neutralize any stress that is placed on them.
Sit on an incline bench that is angled at 45-degrees while holding a dumbbell on each hand.
Let your arms hang down on your sides, with the elbows in, and turn the palms of your hands forward with the thumbs pointing away from the body. Tip: You will keep this hand position throughout the movement as there should not be any twisting of the hands as they come up. This will be your starting position.
Curl up the two dumbbells at the same time until your biceps are fully contracted and exhale. Tip: Do not swing the arms or use momentum. Keep a controlled motion at all times. Hold the contracted position for a second at the top.
As you inhale, slowly go back to the starting position.
Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Verdict
Both exercises target the biceps. Barbell Curl is a beginner exercise using barbell, while Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls is beginner and uses dumbbell. Choose Barbell Curl if you have access to barbell, or Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls if you prefer dumbbell.