Can heavy barbell rows build big strong massive biceps?
Printable View
Can heavy barbell rows build big strong massive biceps?
they sure can help.
[QUOTE=Costa46]Can heavy barbell rows build big strong massive biceps?[/QUOTE]
Heavy barbell rows can build strong massive nuts according to the powerlifters in this forum.
"they sure can help."
They definitly help. However, a session with Wide-Grip Pull-Ups, Bent-Over Rows, and Close-Grip Underhand chins, will make your Bi's explode. Maybe throw in a set or two of curls, but they really aren't needed if you blast your Bi's doing Close-Grip Chins.
according to bb.com forum, squats and deadlifts help you build the strongest and biggest biceps
Rows, Pullups, Pulldowns etc. make up most of people's arm workouts around here. 3-4 sets of iso work should help push them even further.
ive been doing heavy backwork with different grips/squatting for a few years and attribute, hmm, i dont know, 0% of that to any sort of arm development.
Ok here it goes...at the risk of flaming...while it is possible for you to find the optimal synergy between back and biceps in back exercises, most of the ppl THAT I HAVE SEEN (I'm not saying everyone...just the ones I have seen, and not all but MOST) never find the best way to hit biceps AND back in the back exercises. This is why i find it better to do your best to pull with the shoulder blades and isolate the back as much as possible. A lot of ppl make the excuse that it makes them lift less, yet they wonder why they have small backs with big biceps. I just don't beleive that a muscle should be hindered by ego. The goal is to give everything the right amount of attention and create a proportioned and balanced physique.
/\ hes right
if you do barbell rows wrong (which is how most people i see do them) then yes its great for bi's but if you do them right its great for back
you know what builds good bi's ****ing curls
[QUOTE=stealth_swimmer]Ok here it goes...at the risk of flaming...while it is possible for you to find the optimal synergy between back and biceps in back exercises, most of the ppl THAT I HAVE SEEN (I'm not saying everyone...just the ones I have seen, and not all but MOST) never find the best way to hit biceps AND back in the back exercises. This is why i find it better to do your best to pull with the shoulder blades and isolate the back as much as possible. A lot of ppl make the excuse that it makes them lift less, yet they wonder why they have small backs with big biceps. I just don't beleive that a muscle should be hindered by ego. The goal is to give everything the right amount of attention and create a proportioned and balanced physique.[/QUOTE]
While I agree, I still think many underestimate the degree good back work hits your bi's, though quite a few here don't. As far as myself goes, my back is my best part, and I definitely have figured out how to work it, regardless of the fact that I don't feel much of anything in my bi's during back work, yet when I go to pick up a set of dumbells I have to drop the weight about 10 pounds or more each because the back has worked my bi's fairly hard, which is about the same as doing about 6-9 sets of curls beforehand. And I only need a few sets twice a week of direct work to produce optimal growth, unfortunately its taken me a while to learn this. For a few years I thought because I wasn't feeling my bi's get worked, that it meant they weren't. I was wrong.
And I agree with proper back work, most must take a hit to the ego to see optimal results. Retracting the scapula and pausing the contraction are two things I prefer to do, I could lift more weight without it, but I would have a ****ty back, and I did at one point because of it.
I was wondering about this
I do lots of heavy rows, pull ups, chins, deadlifts but my biceps have been 17" for like 8 months and I've only seriously been training for a year, I'm into powerlifting more than bodybuilding but I wouldn't mind bumpin' up the arm size with some curls or something.
[QUOTE=dirtpool]I was wondering about this
I do lots of heavy rows, pull ups, chins, deadlifts but my biceps have been 17" for like 8 months and I've only seriously been training for a year, I'm into powerlifting more than bodybuilding but I wouldn't mind bumpin' up the arm size with some curls or something.[/QUOTE]
WHATS HEAVY?!?! Cause to make 17's get bigger with back exercises you better be rowing 300lbs and doings pull ups and chins with atleast 50+ lbs strapped to ya.
[QUOTE=RippedGuitarist]While I agree, I still think many underestimate the degree good back work hits your bi's, though quite a few here don't. As far as myself goes, my back is my best part, and I definitely have figured out how to work it, regardless of the fact that I don't feel much of anything in my bi's during back work, yet when I go to pick up a set of dumbells I have to drop the weight about 10 pounds or more each because the back has worked my bi's fairly hard, which is about the same as doing about 6-9 sets of curls beforehand. And I only need a few sets twice a week of direct work to produce optimal growth, unfortunately its taken me a while to learn this. For a few years I thought because I wasn't feeling my bi's get worked, that it meant they weren't. I was wrong.
And I agree with proper back work, most must take a hit to the ego to see optimal results. Retracting the scapula and pausing the contraction are two things I prefer to do, I could lift more weight without it, but I would have a ****ty back, and I did at one point because of it.[/QUOTE]
I definitely agree. Of course the biceps are going to get involved to a degree, I just don't think that back exercises should be the sole exercises that hit the biceps. Then again, it depends what works for certain ppl cus I know a friend of mine who was in football and he had a big back AND big bi's. I was just saying that the bi's should be minimally involved for best results...IMHO...of course they will still get worked.
[QUOTE=stealth_swimmer]I definitely agree. Of course the biceps are going to get involved to a degree, I just don't think that back exercises should be the sole exercises that hit the biceps. Then again, it depends what works for certain ppl cus I know a friend of mine who was in football and he had a big back AND big bi's. I was just saying that the bi's should be minimally involved for best results...IMHO...of course they will still get worked.[/QUOTE]
When I do 140lbs DB rows or Ham Chins with 65lbs strapped to my waist, I find it hard to minimally use my bi's. They HAVE to do some of the work....
[QUOTE=gymratluke]WHATS HEAVY?!?! Cause to make 17's get bigger with back exercises you better be rowing 300lbs and doings pull ups and chins with atleast 50+ lbs strapped to ya.[/QUOTE]
I do pull ups and chins w/ 45lbs for 6 to 8 reps
bent row 225 for sets of 10-12
t-bar row 270 for sets of 8
dips with 100lbs for 8 reps
[QUOTE=dirtpool]I do pull ups and chins w/ 45lbs for 6 to 8 reps
bent row 225 for sets of 10-12
t-bar row 270 for sets of 8
dips with 100lbs for 8 reps[/QUOTE]
Yeah man, when your arms are the big, the weights are gonna just have to get heavier then that to make em grow. I'm sitting here just over 16 inches and my weights are slightly heavier then yours. I'm hoping that they'll start growing soon, I want some 17's!!!
[QUOTE=Costa46]Can heavy barbell rows build big strong massive biceps?[/QUOTE]
not rly. Especially if you're using overhand grip.
Some *gasp* direct arm work might help.
[QUOTE=gymratluke]Yeah man, when your arms are the big, the weights are gonna just have to get heavier then that to make em grow. I'm sitting here just over 16 inches and my weights are slightly heavier then yours. I'm hoping that they'll start growing soon, I want some 17's!!![/QUOTE]
yeah, you're probably quite a bit stronger than me overall...back is my strongest area and I just hit a 500 dead about a month ago
275 bench and 365 squat :(
btw, I live in washington also what area are you from?
I only do two bicep excercises on arm day (After triceps).
Back day especially squats helps with the biceps and forearms, but I'd just concentrate on the main area you're working really.
So many people I see spend 1hour on their biceps, doing every imaginable excercise - complete waste of time! If you want good biceps just hit them really hard in two excercises.
DB curls and BB curls!
[QUOTE=dirtpool]yeah, you're probably quite a bit stronger than me overall...back is my strongest area and I just hit a 500 dead about a month ago
275 bench and 365 squat :(
btw, I live in washington also what area are you from?[/QUOTE]
Yeah I'm not that much stronger...
Mount Vernon...you?
about 20 minutes south of Seattle, I was passing through Mount Vernon on my way to Oak Harbor last week...I'll be going up there again on the 14th..where do you work out?
[QUOTE=r~iddick]I only do two bicep excercises on arm day (After triceps).
Back day especially squats helps with the biceps and forearms, but I'd just concentrate on the main area you're working really.
So many people I see spend 1hour on their biceps, doing every imaginable excercise - complete waste of time! If you want good biceps just hit them really hard in two excercises.
DB curls and BB curls![/QUOTE]
If you are doing them on back day I would say sure, thats fine. But if are dedicating a day to your arms, why not hit em with a few different exercises. Nothing wrong with doing BB curl, spider curl, Inc DB curl, and standing hammer curls all in one workout. 3 sets of each and your bis will be begging for mercy!
[QUOTE=dirtpool]about 20 minutes south of Seattle, I was passing through Mount Vernon on my way to Oak Harbor last week...I'll be going up there again on the 14th..where do you work out?[/QUOTE]
Riverside HC, but I am switching to Bayside which is on Hwy 20 just before you turn to head over to OC. Lets hit the weights!!!! 14th....I'm guessing that'd be my PUSH day if you wanna get after it.
yeah bro, that's a monday I normally work chest and triceps...
I'll be staying in anacortes that entire week, I just gotta' be careful working out cuz' I'll be working 10hr nights in Oak Harbor running on caffeine and ephedrine
[QUOTE=dirtpool]yeah bro, that's a monday I normally work chest and triceps...
I'll be staying in anacortes that entire week, I just gotta' be careful working out cuz' I'll be working 10hr nights in Oak Harbor running on caffeine and ephedrine[/QUOTE]
lol yeah! Check out my journal if ya get a chance....you can see what I'm up too.
Would you 2 like a room?:D j/k
Umm...I can't say my bi's get hit with BB Rows. Even underhanded. But maybe that's coz I'm still a little weakling.
Double overhand rows, even done heavy, have done **** all for my biceps
Maybe underhand grip makes them hyoooge but the way I always do them (double overhand) I dont feel a thing in my biceps.
[QUOTE=mike_d]Double overhand rows, even done heavy, have done **** all for my biceps
Maybe underhand grip makes them hyoooge but the way I always do them (double overhand) I dont feel a thing in my biceps.[/QUOTE]
Underhand grip will hit the biceps like all hell.
people say you dont need to do curls and that rows will get them fine. but i do not buy this. you should do some direct arm work.