Got called out for poor form by newbies

[JTraining]

I overheard two skinny newbies (age 20 or so 130 lbs max) critique my form on barbell curls at the gym. My form is clean until the last few reps and then I do use a little "english" to get the max out of my set. I never let my form get too dirty but on heavy days the last few do lack perfect form. I chuckled to myself and then realized......they do have a point. I didn't bother explaining the big picture to them etc.....I just stayed quiet. I did focus on tighter form the rest of my workout though. It just goes to show you can get good feed back and advice from beginners as well as old pros.

[dbx]

I overheard two skinny newbies (age 20 or so 130 lbs max) critique my form on barbell curls at the gym. My form is clean until the last few reps and then I do use a little "english" to get the max out of my set. I never let my form get too dirty but on heavy days the last few do lack perfect form. I chuckled to myself and then realized......they do have a point. I didn't bother explaining the big picture to them etc.....I just stayed quiet. I did focus on tighter form the rest of my workout though. It just goes to show you can get good feed back and advice from beginners as well as old pros.

IMO, cheating on DB or BB curls is one of the few, perfectly acceptable exercises to cheat on. As long as you're experienced in lifting and in control of the cheat, it's a great way (again, imo) to make gains.

[KyleAaron]

Well, when you're dealing with young guys at the gym, curls are their specialty.

When you're doing something obscure and unknown like deadlifts they won't nitpick, they'll just be confused. "Is that upper or lower bicep those work?"

[RunnerandLifter]

Well, when you're dealing with young guys at the gym, curls are their specialty.

When you're doing something obscure and unknown like deadlifts they won't nitpick, they'll just be confused. "Is that upper or lower bicep those work?"

haha omg made me lol

[ntrllftr]

As long as you're experienced in lifting and in control of the cheat, it's the only way (again, imo) to make gains.

I would go as far as saying, what I fixed in your statement.

[dbx]

I would go as far as saying, what I fixed in your statement.

Lulz. Excellent revision!

[mikieson]

IMO, cheating on DB or BB curls is one of the few, perfectly acceptable exercises to cheat on. As long as you're experienced in lifting and in control of the cheat, it's a great way (again, imo) to make gains.

^^^THIS^^^...curling is the one thing its ok to swing on...in a controlled manner. I have seen pros swinging so much and leaning to the side so far I thought they were going to flip over backwards..lol

Its all about control

[C5VetteLS1]

IMO, cheating on DB or BB curls is one of the few, perfectly acceptable exercises to cheat on. As long as you're experienced in lifting and in control of the cheat, it's a great way (again, imo) to make gains.

Glad to hear that. My back gets to arching more & more on the last few reps of my last set of BB Curls. But like you say, that's the only way I can squeak 1 to 2 more reps, or 5lbs more next week.

[lanolar]

Form on curls..... Good lord its CURLS.....

[plushbiscuit]

Well, when you're dealing with young guys at the gym, curls are their specialty.

When you're doing something obscure and unknown like deadlifts they won't nitpick, they'll just be confused. "Is that upper or lower bicep those work?"

Lol.

[BankWalker]

IMO, cheating on DB or BB curls is one of the few, perfectly acceptable exercises to cheat on. As long as you're experienced in lifting and in control of the cheat, it's a great way (again, imo) to make gains.

I concur.

[BazzaW]

Well, when you're dealing with young guys at the gym, curls are their specialty.

When you're doing something obscure and unknown like deadlifts they won't nitpick, they'll just be confused. "Is that upper or lower bicep those work?"

I love that! Had a young guy a few weeks back come over when I was finishing deads and say, 'How the hell do you lift that much!' -made my week

[bodyhard]

IMO, cheating on DB or BB curls is one of the few, perfectly acceptable exercises to cheat on. As long as you're experienced in lifting and in control of the cheat, it's a great way (again, imo) to make gains.

x2

More than IYO, cheat curls add mass to the bi's, again with control of the cheat.

[peacesells]

I'm glad I read this today. I had to cheat on my curls this afternoon and was feeling a bit guilty about it. So much so that I dropped weight by 10 pounds and did 5 perfect curls to make up for it.

[DeathtoToasters]

I overheard two skinny newbies (age 20 or so 130 lbs max) critique my form on barbell curls at the gym. My form is clean until the last few reps and then I do use a little "english" to get the max out of my set. I never let my form get too dirty but on heavy days the last few do lack perfect form. I chuckled to myself and then realized......they do have a point. I didn't bother explaining the big picture to them etc.....I just stayed quiet. I did focus on tighter form the rest of my workout though. It just goes to show you can get good feed back and advice from beginners as well as old pros.

I would have just taken off my shirt (if I looked like you) and been like:

"Any other advice you want to give me? "

lol....

but that is just me!

[JTraining]

I would have just taken off my shirt (if I looked like you) and been like:

"Any other advice you want to give me? "

lol....

but that is just me!

They are way to young and smart to listen to old guys like us. I didn't bother explaining cheat curls at the end of heavy sets because they wouldn't listen anyway. I do think watching overall form is great for newbies......it's just funny when they see something a little different then basic rules being followed they instantly think it is wrong.

Oh......and I don't think I've ever seen them on leg day LOL!

[-=FLEX=-]

IMO, cheating on DB or BB curls is one of the few, perfectly acceptable exercises to cheat on. As long as you're experienced in lifting and in control of the cheat, it's a great way (again, imo) to make gains.

I have to agree with this, with emphasis on "control".

-=FLEX=-

[DaddyR]

I see they caught you without your Weider bible. You should remember it next time so you can whip it out and educate them on the Weider Cheating Principle.

[HeismanWatch]

I overheard two skinny newbies (age 20 or so 130 lbs max) critique my form on barbell curls at the gym. My form is clean until the last few reps and then I do use a little "english" to get the max out of my set. I never let my form get too dirty but on heavy days the last few do lack perfect form. I chuckled to myself and then realized......they do have a point. I didn't bother explaining the big picture to them etc.....I just stayed quiet. I did focus on tighter form the rest of my workout though. It just goes to show you can get good feed back and advice from beginners as well as old pros.

Heavy set cheating on a failure is totally ok by me!

[snorkelman]

I overheard two skinny newbies (age 20 or so 130 lbs max) critique my form on barbell curls at the gym.

Well, when you're dealing with young guys at the gym, curls are their specialty.

Especially if you use a barbell...because it really increases the chances that you are doing those curls in the squat rack :P

[shlape]

I overheard two skinny newbies (age 20 or so 130 lbs max) critique my form on barbell curls at the gym.

I'm a bit guilty of doing that while I watched a Ronnie Coleman dvd, but look at the size of him.

I think I'll just keep my n00b mouth shut.

[Defiant1]

Form is means to an end, not an end itself. Use whatever form hits the muscle where you want how you want.

Ideal "form" is like batting stance in baseball. It is a starting point, but in the end, no one uses the same one.

[rocketman44]

I overheard two skinny newbies (age 20 or so 130 lbs max) critique my form on barbell curls at the gym. My form is clean until the last few reps and then I do use a little "english" to get the max out of my set. I never let my form get too dirty but on heavy days the last few do lack perfect form. I chuckled to myself and then realized......they do have a point. I didn't bother explaining the big picture to them etc.....I just stayed quiet. I did focus on tighter form the rest of my workout though. It just goes to show you can get good feed back and advice from beginners as well as old pros.

I think it's big of you to say that they had a point. Actually, you're being rather generous, because you obviously are using cheating as a technique to lift more weight and not doing it out of ignorance.

That's the thing some guys have to learn in the gym - don't make remarks unless you know for certain what the other person is thinking (and that's very hard to know). Experienced lifters will use cheating as a tactic; newbies will do it out of ignorance or ego. The idea is to discern the difference.

[brizey]

You almost have to cheat to make progress with dumbell curl work unless you have microweights. The increments are too big.