Wrist Curl: how to do it and muscles worked
The wrist curl mainly works your forearms. You need a barbell.
Muscles worked
Main
How to do the wrist curl
- 1
Sit holding a barbell with an underhand grip, forearms resting on your thighs or a bench with wrists hanging over the edge. Keep your hands shoulder-width apart.
- 2
Let the bar roll to your fingertips, then curl it up by bending your wrists. Squeeze your forearms at the top.
- 3
Lower slowly over about 3 seconds, breathing out as you curl up. Keep your forearms flat and still on your thighs.
Form tip: Use a light weight and slow reps; do not lift your forearms off your thighs or jerk the bar.
Common questions
- Which muscles does the wrist curl work?
- The wrist curl mainly works your forearms.
- What equipment do I need for the wrist curl?
- You need a barbell.
- How many sets and reps should I do?
- A common starting point is 2 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 controlled reps, with a weight that leaves a couple of reps in reserve. Adjust it to your goal and experience, and stop if something hurts.
- How do I track the wrist curl in SweatByte?
- Add it to a routine or a workout. Log the weight and reps for each set. SweatByte shows your last session's numbers on every set, so you know what to beat.
More forearms exercises
General information, not medical advice. Learn the movement with light weight first, and see a doctor or physiotherapist if you have an injury or pain. More guides in Learn.