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Exercise guide

Zottman Curl

How to do the Zottman Curl with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

IsolationDumbbellIntermediatePull
Primary muscles

Biceps

Secondary

Forearms

Equipment

Dumbbell

Step by step

How to do the Zottman Curl

  1. 1

    Stand up with your torso upright and a dumbbell in each hand being held at arms length. The elbows should be close to the torso.

  2. 2

    Make sure the palms of the hands are facing each other. This will be your starting position.

  3. 3

    While holding the upper arm stationary, curl the weights while contracting the biceps as you breathe out. Only the forearms should move. Your wrist should rotate so that you have a supinated (palms up) grip. Continue the movement until your biceps are fully contracted and the dumbbells are at shoulder level.

  4. 4

    Hold the contracted position for a second as you squeeze the biceps.

  5. 5

    Now during the contracted position, rotate your wrist until you now have a pronated (palms facing down) grip with the thumb at a higher position than the pinky.

  6. 6

    Slowly begin to bring the dumbbells back down using the pronated grip.

  7. 7

    As the dumbbells close your thighs, start rotating the wrist so that you go back to a neutral (palms facing your body) grip.

  8. 8

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Zottman Curl set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap — so your biceps volume is visible at a glance — and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More biceps exercises

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