How to do an Incline Hammer Curl
Reviewed by Jim Parker, CPT, B.A. Kinesiology
Dumbbells
Incline Bench
Workouts with Incline Hammer Curl
Target muscles worked
Instructions for Proper Form
Similar to other curls, this isolation exercise targets the biceps. The use of dumbbells helps to prevent compensating for discrepancies in strength between sides, while also giving you more freedom in your range of motion compared to equipment like barbells. By supporting your torso with the incline bench, you also prevent yourself from swaying in order to assist in moving the weights. Like other hammer curl variation, the position of your wrists helps to emphasize the long head of the biceps.
- Lie your back onto a bench while squeezing your shoulder blades together and placing your heels firmly on the ground underneath your knees.
- The bench should be at 45-60 degrees and in contact with your head, shoulders, and butt.
- Grab ahold of dumbbells and extend your arms so that they are vertical with the ground and your palms are facing in.
- Begin to flex your elbows to raise the dumbbells allowing your elbows to raise slightly next to your torso.
- Flex the dumbbells up to shoulder height keeping the palms facing in.
- Lower the dumbbells back to the starting position.
Common Form Mistakes
Limit Range of Motion
There should always be tension on your biceps. It’s very common to lose tension in your biceps at the top or bottom of the exercise. Try to limit your range of motion so that your biceps are always engaged.
Weight & 1 Rep Max Calculator
Average Incline Hammer Curl standards by male, female, weight, age and height
Use this calculator to see Fitbod's possible first recommendations for you. This would be your starting line, based on more than 4.5 billion logged sets from 1.1 million users.
- beginner8reps17.5lbs1 Rep Max22.5lbs
- intermediate8reps22.5lbs30lbs
- advanced8reps25lbs30lbs
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Alternatives & Variations to Incline Hammer Curl
1. Hammer Curls
99.2 mSCORESWAPPED 2,922 TIMESSimilar to other curls, this isolation exercise targets the biceps. Unlike the standard Dumbbell Bicep Curl, this variation rotates your wrist into a more natural position. This rotation also help to emphasize the long head of the bicep. This is a great exercise for adding some variety to your curls as well as developing functional strength and building muscle mass.
2. Incline Dumbbell Curl
95 mSCORESWAPPED 1,548 TIMESSimilar to other curls, this isolation exercise targets the biceps. The use of dumbbells helps to prevent compensating for discrepancies in strength between sides, while also giving you more freedom in your range of motion compared to equipment like barbells. By using an incline, you can also keep more tension on your biceps at the bottom of your range of motion which can help develop strength during that portion of the movement, as well as help you build muscle mass.
3. Cross Body Hammer Curls
95.4 mSCORESWAPPED 1,043 TIMESCross Body Hammer Curls are a variation on the more standard Hammer Curl. Like other variations this is an isolation exercise that targets the biceps. Unlike many other Hammer Curl variations, this exercises has you bring the weight across your body instead of straight up and down.
4. Cable Bicep Curl
94.9 mSCORESWAPPED 705 TIMESSimilar to other curls, this isolation exercise targets the biceps. The use of cables allows you to apply tension to your biceps at a different angle than with free weights. This is especially helpful for applying tension at the top of your range of motion. Because you can maintain more tension on your biceps throughout the movement, this is especially helpful for building muscle mass in your biceps.
5. Dumbbell Bicep Curl
99.6 mSCORESWAPPED 671 TIMESThis exercise is one of the most common isolation, biceps exercises out there. Dumbbells help prevent compensating for strength imbalances, as well as allows plenty of freedom in your range of motion. This is a staple exercise in most workouts, and is a great way to build strength and muscle mass in your biceps.
6. Cable Rope Hammer Curls
72.7 mSCORESWAPPED 598 TIMESCable Rope Hammer Curls focus on the biceps and brachialis with a neutral grip, offering a variation that differs from standard curls by emphasizing the outer biceps and forearms. Using a rope attachment on a cable machine allows for a full range of motion while providing constant tension, leading to improved muscle growth and strength. This exercise is particularly effective for developing arm thickness and grip strength, making it a valuable addition to any arm workout routine for balanced muscle development.
7. Concentration Curl
91.3 mSCORESWAPPED 593 TIMESConcentration Curl is an isolation exercise that targets the biceps with a high degree of focus. Seated with legs spread, you rest one arm against the same-side thigh and curl a dumbbell from a fully extended arm position to full contraction, keeping the elbow stationary. This position minimizes the involvement of other muscles, ensuring the bicep is fully engaged throughout the movement. Concentration Curls are effective for increasing bicep strength and enhancing muscle definition. They allow for precise form control and can help identify and correct imbalances between arms.
8. Seated Dumbbell Curl
98 mSCORESWAPPED 506 TIMESSimilar to other curls, this isolation exercise targets the biceps. The use of dumbbells helps prevent compensating for strength discrepancies between sides, as well as not restricting range of motion. Performing curls from a seated position also helps to prevent cheating by swaying your body to assist in raising the weight.
9. Machine Bicep Curl
93.1 mSCORESWAPPED 487 TIMESSimilar to other curls, this isolation exercise targets the biceps. The use of a machine adds stability to the movement by forcing you to use a fixed range of motion. This added stability means you can focus more on exertion than stabilizing the movement. Since your range of motion is fixed, this is a great exercise for learning, or to push the limits of this movement.
10. EZ-Bar Curl
98.1 mSCORESWAPPED 435 TIMESSimilar to other curls, this isolation exercise targets the biceps. The use of an EZ-Bar adds some stability to the movement when compared to equipment like dumbbells. This added stability means you can focus more on exertion than stability, and is a great way to develop strength. Additionally, the EZ-Bar allows for a more comfortable grip than a barbell, as well as allows your wrist to rotate slightly which can lead to better activation of the biceps.