Exercise Comparison
Barbell Curl vs Zottman Preacher Curl




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Muscle Analysis
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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.
Zottman Preacher Curl
Grab a dumbbell in each hand and place your upper arms on top of the preacher bench or the incline bench. The dumbbells should be held at shoulder height and the elbows should be flexed. Hold the dumbbells with the palms of your hands facing down. This will be your starting position.
As you breathe in, slowly lower the dumbbells keeping the palms down until your upper arm is extended and your biceps are fully stretched.
Now rotate your wrists once you are at the bottom of the movement so that the palms of the hands are facing up.
As you exhale, use your biceps to curl the weights up until they are fully contracted and the dumbbells are at shoulder height. Again, remember that to ensure full contraction you need to bring that small finger higher than the thumb.
Squeeze the biceps hard for a second at the contracted position and rotate your wrists so that the palms are facing down again.
Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Verdict
Both exercises target the biceps. Barbell Curl is a beginner exercise using barbell, while Zottman Preacher Curl is intermediate and uses dumbbell. Choose Barbell Curl if you're looking for a more accessible option, or Zottman Preacher Curl for a greater challenge.