Concentration Curl vs Barbell Preacher Curl

Maximizing Your Biceps Workout Plan

Contents

Planfit users log Concentration Curl more often — 3,522 sessions vs 541. Compare Biceps form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Customize Your Biceps Workout: Explore the Benefits of Concentration Curl and Barbell Preacher Curl for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Concentration Curl vs Barbell Preacher Curl : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Concentration Curl more often — 3,522 sessions compared to 541 for Barbell Preacher Curl.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Concentration Curl and Barbell Preacher Curl differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Concentration Curl and Barbell Preacher Curl Differ

What differsConcentration CurlBarbell Preacher Curl
Muscles workedbicepsbiceps and forearms
Equipmenta dumbbella barbell
One side at a timeYesNo
Difficulty2 of 54 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users3,522 sessions541 sessions

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How to Concentration Curl

Concentration Curl gif

Concentration Curl muscles worked: Biceps

Form

  1. 1. Keep your elbow fixed on your thigh and lift the dumbbell up using your biceps.
  2. 2. Do not move your elbow or shoulder; just bend your arm.
  3. 3. At the top, strongly contract your biceps.
  4. 4. Slowly lower it back to the starting position while feeling the resistance.
  5. 5. Start the next repetition without fully extending your arm, keeping it slightly bent.

Coach's Comment

  1. Keep your elbows steady and slowly raise the weight.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Concentration Curl, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Concentration Curl Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Concentration Curl methods?Exercise Guide

How to Barbell Preacher Curl

Barbell Preacher Curl gif

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 Comment

  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%.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Barbell Preacher Curl, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Barbell Preacher Curl Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Barbell Preacher Curl methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Biceps, Concentration Curl or Barbell Preacher Curl?

Planfit users log Concentration Curl more often — 3,522 sessions against 541 for Barbell Preacher Curl. Both train Biceps, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

Do Concentration Curl and Barbell Preacher Curl work the same muscles?

Not quite. Concentration Curl loads biceps, and Barbell Preacher Curl loads biceps and forearms.

What equipment do Concentration Curl and Barbell Preacher Curl need?

Concentration Curl needs a dumbbell, and Barbell Preacher Curl needs a barbell.

Which is easier to start with?

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

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