Wide-Grip Barbell Curl — start position
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Wide-Grip Barbell Curl — end position
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Arms / Beginner / Isolation (single joint)

Wide-Grip Barbell Curl

A standing barbell curl with a grip wider than shoulder width that emphasizes the inner (short) head of the biceps.

At a glance

Primary
Biceps
Secondary
Forearms & grip
Equipment
Barbell
Movement pattern
Elbow flexion (curl)
Level
Beginner
Type
Arms, Isolation (single joint)

Loads the wrist. Use a load you can control and skip it if it causes pain.

How to do it

  1. Stand holding a barbell underhand with your hands wider than shoulder width.
  2. Keep the elbows close to your sides and curl the bar toward your chest.
  3. Squeeze the biceps at the top.
  4. Lower the bar slowly to full extension.

Tips

  • Do not swing the torso.
  • Keep the elbows from flaring backward.

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Muscles worked

Neck (Front)Upper traps (Front)Front delts (Front)Side delts (Front)Chest (Front)Serratus anterior (Front)Biceps — primary (Front)Forearms & grip — secondary (Front)Abs (Front)Obliques (Front)Hip flexors (Front)Quads (Front)Adductors (Front)Shins (tibialis) (Front)Calves (Front)Outer shins (peroneals) (Front)Feet (arch & toes) (Front)Neck (Back)Upper traps (Back)Upper back (rhomboids, mid/lower traps) (Back)Rear delts (Back)Side delts (Back)Rotator cuff (Back)Lats (Back)Lower back (erectors) (Back)Triceps (Back)Forearms & grip — secondary (Back)Hip abductors (glute med) (Back)Glutes (Back)Hamstrings (Back)Adductors (Back)Calves (Back)
FrontBack
  • Primary: Biceps
  • Secondary: Forearms & grip

Best for

How specific this exercise is to each movement.

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Illustration: Everkinetic (everkinetic.com), CC BY-SA 4.0.