Heavy cheat curls vs. strict form curls

Ex-Terminator · 12-07-2006, 11:12 AM

Which would be a better mass builder and why?

Discuss!

Guardian · 12-07-2006, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ex-Terminator

Which would be a better mass builder and why?

Discuss!

Im a fan of both... to an extent.

I think everyone should have one set for each muscle of strength based excercise methods which generally would entail more weight with more explosive movement with slightly less form.

But I think the majority of training should be based off quality form and lower weight.

If I had to choose only one it would be the quality form, but again I feel both have good merit in your training regiment.

The Brotherhood · 12-07-2006, 11:22 AM

^^ pretty much sums it up. Good post

papi93 · 12-07-2006, 11:47 AM

If I want to increase my intensity, I would turn to forced reps and negatives. A workout partner comes in handy for this.

If you train alone you could use the Doggcrapp rest-pause to increase your intensity, without sacrificing technique.

dbcb314 · 12-07-2006, 12:15 PM

I like to use a little in between lol. Not super, by the book strict, but I'm not going to do Arnold style cheat curls either.

J2jud · 12-07-2006, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guardian

Im a fan of both... to an extent.

I think everyone should have one set for each muscle of strength based excercise methods which generally would entail more weight with more explosive movement with slightly less form.

But I think the majority of training should be based off quality form and lower weight.

If I had to choose only one it would be the quality form, but again I feel both have good merit in your training regiment.

I totally agree, man. Both have their place. I prefer doing strict form curls as they add a better look to you bi's rather cheating all the time. Cheat curls (I think) can add mass, but I would only perform them to get a kick start on my muscle growth......BECAUSE, THEY DO WORK. If all you have done is strict curls, then try HEAVY ASS WEIGHT and do some cheating....but not too dramatic of a cheat....(feel it in your arms and NOT your back). LOL! As I said before I think strict curling movement is a better road for DEVELOPED ARMS. I'd like to add that I add in a cheat day for arms every 3rd arm session.

Jud.

Agostage · 12-07-2006, 01:30 PM

Like they said, both have a place. In the end you'll just have to experiment and find what works for you.

Ex-Terminator · 12-07-2006, 01:36 PM

Thanks, guys. What started out as strict form curls a couple of months ago became cheat curls from adding weight every week.

I didn't keep adding weight out of ego or anything stupid like that; I kept adding because I was getting results. I think I'll keep doing the cheat version, but go a bit lighter with strict form, too.

MassIsAhead · 12-07-2006, 01:38 PM

I like doing 1 or 2 seats of cheat curls (5-6 reps) and then some higher rep sets (10-12) with some rest-pausing with a lighter weight which will FEEL even lighter than it is.

natescope · 12-07-2006, 01:39 PM

cheat curls recruit your shoulders too much. if you've done shoulders earlier in the week, you may stunt their recuperation. i'd go with strict form to completely isolate your biceps-this means using the straight bar instead of the curl bar as well

BluntD · 12-07-2006, 01:48 PM

As said by others, BOTH. My sucess has always been using them combined; where you're doing a heavy set where you may only be able to get 6 strict reps, then you proceed to cheat and knock out 2-4 more. The key when cheating is to not cheat too excessively. I will usually bend over slightly and get a little bounce off my legs for momentum and then a little pull up top, but you dont want to be that guy who's back is entirely arched trying to complete a rep. This is why I like having a spotter for my heavy curls because they can give a little bump if neccessary in the middle part of the rep where most people get stuck, without me throwing my whole back into it to complete the rep; then they can help with doing a strict negative instead of just letting a heavy weight come crashing back down.

sanpedro · 12-07-2006, 02:13 PM

strict with bicep squeeze !

CoQ10 · 12-07-2006, 02:40 PM

I'm a fan of strict curls, but then again my biceps are about 14"

. The biggest BBers at my gym do mostly strict curls with extremely heavy cheat curls thrown in once in a while, rest-pause style. Seems to work for them.

-C10

d_k · 12-07-2006, 02:47 PM

Both have their places, depends on the exercises for me. If I;m goign heavy on regular BB curls or DB Curls I'll cheat a tiny bit sometimes to help gain strength... If it's things like preachers or incline DB's I usually stay strict

Ex-Terminator · 12-07-2006, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natescope

cheat curls recruit your shoulders too much. if you've done shoulders earlier in the week, you may stunt their recuperation.

Some may laugh at this, but I consider the front delt action to be a benefit of cheat curls. It doesn't give them a full ROM, but I've gotten some growth this way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by natescope

i'd go with strict form to completely isolate your biceps-this means using the straight bar instead of the curl bar as well

Some people have wrist problems with curling a straight bar. I do think you get some forearm benefit with straight-bar curls.

KPipes0683 · 05-25-2007, 12:08 PM

I prefer very heavy weights(4-6 reps)and a loose form. Back in my earlier days of training I used to go strict on everything and my growth was at a standstill. Once I caught on to the way that the bigger guys were training, I began to do it and my growth just skyrocketed. I believe that strict form is great for when you're in your beginning stages of bodybuilding, but over time start adding weight and manipulate the form of the exercise a little. Find a middleground for challenging heavy weight and form that is not too strict or too sloppy.

Jenk513 · 05-25-2007, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guardian

Im a fan of both... to an extent.

I think everyone should have one set for each muscle of strength based excercise methods which generally would entail more weight with more explosive movement with slightly less form.

But I think the majority of training should be based off quality form and lower weight.

If I had to choose only one it would be the quality form, but again I feel both have good merit in your training regiment.

I agree, try incorporating both but dont go heavy until your muscles are fully warmed up and watch that lower back.

Jenk513 · 05-25-2007, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KPipes0683

I prefer very heavy weights(4-6 reps)and a loose form. Back in my earlier days of training I used to go strict on everything and my growth was at a standstill. Once I caught on to the way that the bigger guys were training, I began to do it and my growth just skyrocketed. I believe that strict form is great for when you're in your beginning stages of bodybuilding, but over time start adding weight and manipulate the form of the exercise a little. Find a middleground for challenging heavy weight and form that is not too strict or too sloppy.

Also a very valid point!

Mr. Awesome · 08-30-2007, 01:24 PM

Where could one find a video of recommendable form for cheat curls?

DiamondDelts · 08-30-2007, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Awesome

Where could one find a video of recommendable form for cheat curls?

www.egocurls.com

microrahsheen · 08-30-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Awesome

Where could one find a video of recommendable form for cheat curls?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiamondDelts

www.egocurls.com

LOL!!! FORM for CHEAT curls? Come on....stop it...your killing me...

lucasrd · 08-30-2007, 02:18 PM

I do both to the extent that "cheat" curls have to recruit muscles from other places in order to do the reps...they have to do some good (even if not solely targeting the biceps)

jmusclehead · 08-31-2007, 07:45 AM

I've used cheat curls in the past and I find that I can do more weight, but, my results were not as good as when I use strict form.

Mr. Awesome · 08-31-2007, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by microrahsheen

LOL!!! FORM for CHEAT curls? Come on....stop it...your killing me...

People were discussing here how much you should cheat etc... yeah that's form.

tinyman5000 · 08-31-2007, 08:59 AM

why do people cheat on curls? I heard your arms can grow without any direct isolation

Duckenheimer · 08-31-2007, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinyman5000

why do people cheat on curls? I heard your arms can grow without any direct isolation

They can if you do Chins, but curls optimise biceps work. My arms for example grow fast enough on Chins that adding curls isn't necessary or ideal for my current goals - my other bodyparts aren't as developed as my arms and I would rather add more work/sets for a lagging bodypart like shoulders. One day though I'm gonna not be building a base but building each bodypart to it's max, or maybe doing rows in a routine but no chins - and then curls won't be merely icing but will be essential.

Some people don't get enough biceps work from chins for the arms to stay in proportion.

People cheat to use more weight which overloads the muscle at certain parts of the movement. I'd wouldn't bother with it until I had a very well developed mind muscle connection. Too easy to use the cheating simply to use more weight but only throwing extra stress on delts etc.

DiamondDelts · 08-31-2007, 09:46 AM

I've never seen one guy in my entire life doing cheat curls with decent sized arms. Coincidence I think not.

Duckenheimer · 08-31-2007, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiamondDelts

I've never seen one guy in my entire life doing cheat curls with decent sized arms. Coincidence I think not.

Really? I've seen quite a few.

DiamondDelts · 08-31-2007, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckenheimer

Really? I've seen quite a few.

Not I. And I've been attending gyms since I was 6 years old. The guys I see doing heavy cheating on iso's are always the same. Usually younger than 21, sub 200lbs, and very weak arms. But moving heavier weights(by any means necessary) usually makes them feel powerful like they are really doing something.

gainmusclefast · 08-31-2007, 10:08 AM

only cheat to get the last 1-2 reps IF NEEDED