EZ-Bar Bicep Curl

Auto-detected exercise indicatorAuto Detected
Beginner
Home Friendly

An EZ-bar curl variation using a semi-supinated grip to reduce wrist strain, effectively isolating the biceps and brachialis for arm hypertrophy and strength development.

About Exercise

Equipment

EZ Bar

Difficulty

2/5 • Beginner

Primary Muscle Groups

Biceps

Accessory Muscles

Shoulders, Abs

Popularity Score

9

Goals

Hypertrophy
Strength

Training Style

Bodybuilding

Setup Requirements

Requires Rack

No

Requires Bench

No

Requires Spotter

No

Space Needed

Small

Noise Level

Low

Muscle Breakdown

Biceps

9/10

Short Head, Brachialis

Forearms

6/10

Flexors

Shoulders

2/10

Anterior Delts

Abs

2/10

Rectus Abdominis

Programming

Typical Rep Range

8-15 reps

Rest Between Sets

60-120 seconds • Use shorter rests for endurance/pump, longer for heavy sets.

How to Perform

Stand tall holding the EZ bar with an underhand, semi-supinated grip (using the angled sections). Set your feet shoulder-width apart, keep your elbows fixed close to your sides, and brace your core tightly.

  1. Flex your biceps to curl the bar upward toward your shoulders in a smooth motion.
  2. Keep your upper arms stationary and squeeze the biceps at the peak contraction.
  3. Slowly lower the bar back to the starting position under complete control.
  4. Maintain tension in the biceps throughout the entire lowering phase before starting the next rep.

Coaching Tips

Form Cues

  • Keep elbows pinned.
  • Shoulders back and down.
  • Squeeze the contraction hard.
  • Control the eccentric phase.
  • Stay tall, do not swing.

Breathing

Inhale during the eccentric (lowering) phase, and exhale forcefully as you initiate the concentric (curling) phase.

Tempo

3-0-1

Range of Motion

Start with arms fully extended but not locked out; finish when the bar is near your shoulders and the biceps are maximally contracted.

Safety

Safety Notes

  • Use a weight that allows strict form without reliance on momentum.
  • Avoid hyperextending the elbows at the bottom of the movement.

Spotting

A spotter can assist by placing hands under the bar or near the wrist to help lift the weight past the sticking point.

Common Mistakes

  • Swinging the torso or hips to generate momentum.
  • Allowing elbows to move forward during the curl.
  • Failing to fully extend the arms at the bottom.
  • Rushing the negative portion of the lift.

When to Avoid

  • Acute wrist or elbow pain.

Flexibility Needed

  • Full elbow extension capacity.

Build Up First

  • Basic core stability competency.

Also known as

EZ-Bar Curl, Z-Bar Curl, Cambered Bar Curl

Found this helpful?

Share your thoughts or help us improve this guide.

Hero Image

Master your movement.

Experience automatic exercise detection and rep counting - powered by the motion of your Apple Watch.

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, serve personalized content, and analyze our traffic. By clicking 'Accept All', you consent to our use of cookies.