Description
An exercise that targets the biceps and forearms by curling a barbell with an overhand grip.
How to Do Barbell Reverse Curl
- 1Setup
Stand upright with your feet shoulder-width apart and a slight bend in your knees. Hold a barbell with an overhand (pronated) grip, hands shoulder-width apart, letting it hang at arm's length in front of your thighs.
- 2Setup
Keep your elbows tucked close to your torso and ensure your wrists are straight, maintaining a neutral position without bending them up or down.
- 3
Exhale and slowly curl the barbell upwards by flexing only at your elbows, keeping your upper arms stationary against your sides. Continue until your forearms are nearly vertical.
- 4
Squeeze your forearms at the peak of the movement, consciously engaging the brachioradialis muscle for maximum contraction.
- 5
Inhale and slowly lower the barbell back to the starting position with controlled movement, fully extending your arms without locking your elbows at the bottom.
Tips
- Focus on forearm contraction: Actively think about pulling the weight up using your forearms, rather than primarily relying on your biceps.
- Maintain wrist alignment: Keep your wrists perfectly straight and rigid throughout the entire movement to prevent strain and maximize brachioradialis engagement.
- Control the eccentric phase: Slowly lowering the barbell on the way down increases time under tension, which is crucial for muscle growth and strength development.
- Avoid swinging: Use a weight that allows you to perform the exercise with strict form, preventing momentum from assisting the lift.
Common Mistakes
- ×Using too much momentum: Do not swing the weight up using your back or shoulders; reduce the weight to perform controlled elbow flexion.
- ×Flaring elbows out: Keep your elbows pinned to your sides throughout the movement to isolate the forearms and biceps effectively.
- ×Bending wrists during the curl: Maintain a neutral wrist position to prevent wrist strain and ensure optimal targeting of the brachioradialis.
Variations

Barbell Standing Reverse Grip Curl
Strengthen your forearms and brachioradialis with the Barbell Standing Reverse Grip Curl.

Barbell Reverse Preacher Curl
Build strong, defined forearms and improve grip strength with the Barbell Reverse Preacher Curl.

Olympic Barbell Hammer Curl
Build powerful forearms and strong biceps with the Olympic Barbell Hammer Curl. This exercise effectively targets the brachioradialis for peak arm

EZ Barbell Reverse Grip Curl
Perform the EZ Barbell Reverse Grip Curl to build strong forearms and target the brachioradialis.
Related Exercises

Dumbbell Seated Revers grip Concentration Curl
Target your brachioradialis and build forearm strength with the Dumbbell Seated Reverse Grip Concentration Curl.

Dumbbell Peacher Hammer Curl
Perform the Dumbbell Peacher Hammer Curl with a neutral grip, keeping your elbows pinned to your sides.

Weighted Standing Curl
Target your brachioradialis with the weighted standing curl. This exercise builds forearm strength and muscle definition by isolating the elbow flexors.

Dumbbell Cross Body Hammer Curl
Target your brachioradialis and biceps with the Dumbbell Cross Body Hammer Curl. This variation curls the dumbbell across your body, enhancing forearm

Bodyweight Kneeling Push-up Row
Build chest and back strength with this kneeling push-up variation that adds a rowing pull at the top.

Weighted Plate Standing Hands Torsion
Strengthen your forearms and wrists with this plate rotation exercise that builds grip and rotational power.
Track Barbell Reverse Curl in your workouts
Log sets, reps, and weight. See your progress over time.
Get Ellim — Free