It's unfortunate that cable hammer curls aren't the most widely used bicep workout. The movement is advantageous for all types of trainees, produces outstanding growth, and gives a plethora of advantages.
But what precisely is a cable hammer curl, what advantages does it provide, and how should it be performed safely? Now let's talk.
The Difference Between Bicep Curls and Hammer Curls
At first appearance, hammer and standard bicep curls appear to be the same workout. That is accurate in a lot of ways. Both exercises use a comparable range of motion to train your biceps. The same guidelines that apply to bicep curls also apply to hammer curls.
But despite their similarities, each movement has advantages of its own. The wrist position is the most obvious change. In ordinary curls, your wrists point forward; in hammer curls, they point in the direction of your thighs. As a result, hammer curls provide a more balanced stimulus for the biceps and brachioradialis than normal curls, which allow you to stress your biceps more. (1)
What Are the Benefits of Cable Hammer Curls?
Hammer curls allow you to simultaneously build your biceps and forearms, which is a significant advantage. Instead of performing separate exercises for each location, you can accomplish two goals at once by performing hammer curls. The wrist position, which disadvantages your biceps just a little bit, makes the benefit attainable. Your forearms become more active as a result, promoting more even growth.
The consistent strain you experience from the beginning to the end of the cable hammer curl is another advantage. As opposed to free weights, which have varied degrees of resistance, cables put more strain on your muscles with each repetition.
Similar to cables, you can assault your muscles from a variety of angles with cables. For instance, you may perform typical cable curls while standing over a small pulley. Another option is to raise the pulley up high, hold the attachment, and perform curls with your arms raised in front of you. To change things up, you can also use different attachments (straight bar, handles, rope, etc.).
How to Perform Safe and Effective Cable Hammer Curls
Standing upright with your back straight is one of the most crucial things you must do. By maintaining your equilibrium, you'll be able to keep all of the stress in your forearms and biceps. Additionally, you must to hoist the weight with reasonable control and grace. Avoid jerking the weight because doing so releases stress from your muscles and reduces the effectiveness of the exercise.
Manage the load safely is another important reminder. As you get more proficient at the exercise, progressively raise the resistance from a lesser starting weight. Additionally, when performing cable hammer curls, be sure to maintain a tight grasp on the cable attachment.
Spend some time carefully inspecting the equipment you'll be utilizing for safety. If the cable breaks in the middle of a set, you risk injury, so be sure it is sturdy on both ends and all along.
Another crucial step before training is a thorough warm-up. Spend some time warming up your body by doing some mild aerobic, dynamic stretching, and warm-up routines.