Barbell Preacher Curl vs Incline Barbell Reverse Curl

Which one fits your Biceps workout plan?

Contents

Planfit users log Barbell Preacher Curl more often — 540 sessions vs 21. Compare Biceps form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Compare the benefits of Barbell Preacher Curl and Incline Barbell Reverse Curl and pick the one that fits your Biceps workout.

Barbell Preacher Curl vs Incline Barbell Reverse Curl: Which Do Planfit Users Choose?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Barbell Preacher Curl more often — 540 sessions compared to 21 for Incline Barbell Reverse Curl.

What most people do isn't always what fits you. Barbell Preacher Curl and Incline Barbell Reverse Curl differ in the muscles they work, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Barbell Preacher Curl and Incline Barbell Reverse Curl Differ

What differsBarbell Preacher CurlIncline Barbell Reverse Curl
Difficulty4 of 55 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users540 sessions21 sessions

Related comparisons

Not sure whether Barbell Preacher Curl or Incline Barbell Reverse Curl fits your goal? Get a personalized plan

How to Do Barbell Preacher Curl

Barbell Preacher Curl demo video

Barbell Preacher Curl Muscles Worked: Biceps

Form

  1. 1. Press your armpits against the pad.
  2. 2. Grab the barbell with shoulder-width grip, palms facing up.
  3. 3. Lift the barbell using only your biceps without any body or shoulder momentum.
  4. 4. Slowly lower the barbell while feeling the resistance of the weight, keeping your shoulders and elbows fixed.
  5. 5. Do not fully extend your arms; keep them slightly bent to maximize relaxation.

Coach's Tips

  1. 1. Fix your elbows on the pad and control the weight slowly.
  2. 2. If you straighten your arms too much, it puts strain on your elbow joints, and using body momentum puts strain on your lower back.
  3. 3. If you feel pain, lower the weight by 10–20%.

For a full Barbell Preacher Curl guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Barbell Preacher Curl exercise guide.

Want to learn more about Barbell Preacher Curl?Exercise Guide

How to Do Incline Barbell Reverse Curl

Incline Barbell Reverse Curl demo video

Incline Barbell Reverse Curl Muscles Worked: Biceps

Form

  1. 1. Please lift the barbell while keeping your shoulders and elbows fixed.
  2. 2. Slowly return to the starting position.
  3. 3. When lowering the barbell, do not lower it completely; lower it just enough so that your biceps do not lose tension.

Coach's Tips

  1. 1. Keep your shoulders fixed and move only your arms.
  2. 2. Make sure your wrists do not bend.

For a full Incline Barbell Reverse Curl guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Incline Barbell Reverse Curl exercise guide.

Want to learn more about Incline Barbell Reverse Curl?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Biceps, Barbell Preacher Curl or Incline Barbell Reverse Curl?

Planfit users log Barbell Preacher Curl more often — 540 sessions against 21 for Incline Barbell Reverse Curl. Both train Biceps, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

What equipment do Barbell Preacher Curl and Incline Barbell Reverse Curl need?

Barbell Preacher Curl needs a barbell, and Incline Barbell Reverse Curl needs a barbell.

Which is easier to start with?

Barbell Preacher Curl is the easier place to start. Move to Incline Barbell Reverse Curl once your form holds up.

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