How to do a Preacher Curl
Reviewed by JP Michelsen, CPT, B.A. Kinesiology
About Preacher Curl
EZ Bar
Preacher Curl Bench
Instructions for Proper Form
Similar to other curls, this isolation exercise targets the biceps. By using a preacher curl bench, you ensure that your elbows are locked in place, which prevents any swinging of your arm to assist in moving the weight. The use of an EZ-bar adds some stability to the movement, allowing you to focus more on exertion that stabilizing the movement. The combination of these two variations makes this an excellent exercise for developing strength in your biceps with minimal risk of cheating.
- Sit upright in the preacher curl bench while pressing your chest against the pad.
- Extend your arms over the pad to grab ahold the bar with an underneath grip.
- With your arms parallel and in front of your shoulders, flex your elbows to raise the bar keeping your upper arms in contact with the pad.
- Once your forearms have come into contact with your biceps, Lower the bar back to the starting position.
Common Form Mistakes
Limit Range of Motion at the Top
There should always be tension on your biceps. It’s very common to lose tension at the top of the movement when the resistance is directly over your elbow. Limit your range of motion so your biceps stay engaged for the entire exercise.
Weight & 1 Rep Max Calculator
Average Preacher 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.
- beginner8reps30lbs1 Rep Max40lbs
- intermediate8reps35lbs45lbs
- advanced8reps40lbs50lbs
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Alternative Exercises to Preacher Curl
1. Hammer Curls
99.2 mSCORESWAPPED 10,132 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. Machine Preacher Curl
82.4 mSCORESWAPPED 9,031 TIMESMachine Preacher Curl is an isolation exercise that targets the biceps. By using a preacher curl machine, you ensure your elbows are locked in place, preventing any swinging to assist in moving the weight. The machine adds stability to the movement, allowing you to focus more on exertion than stabilization, making it excellent for bicep development.
- Beginner
- Biceps
- Preacher Curl Machine
3. Machine Bicep Curl
93.1 mSCORESWAPPED 8,810 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.
- Beginner
- Biceps
- Bicep Curl Machine
4. Dumbbell Bicep Curl
99.6 mSCORESWAPPED 8,612 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.
5. EZ-Bar Curl
98.1 mSCORESWAPPED 7,765 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.
- Beginner
- Biceps
- EZ Bar
6. Barbell Curl
98.5 mSCORESWAPPED 7,167 TIMESAs with other curls, this isolation exercise targets the biceps. The use of a barbell adds more stability to this movement, and somewhat restricts your range of motion. This added stability means you can focus more on exertion than stabilizing the movement. This is a great variation for helping you build strength in your biceps.
7. Seated Dumbbell Curl
98 mSCORESWAPPED 6,699 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.
8. Cross Body Hammer Curls
95.4 mSCORESWAPPED 6,384 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.
9. Cable Bicep Curl
94.9 mSCORESWAPPED 6,050 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.
- Beginner
- Biceps
- Rope Cable
10. Reverse Barbell Curl
96.8 mSCORESWAPPED 3,754 TIMESSimilar to other curls, this isolation exercise targets the biceps. Using a reverse grip increases the demand for grip strength, and can be a way to train for functional applications of biceps strength. The use of a barbell adds some stability to the movement when compared to equipment like dumbbells. This added stability means you can focus more on exertion rather than stabilizing the movement.