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Cable Wrist Curl

A cable-loaded wrist flexion exercise for the forearm flexors, using constant cable tension to build grip and forearm size through a full range.

ArmsCableWrist flexion
GoLightWeight mediacable-wrist-curl

Demonstration coming soon

Primary

Wrist flexors

Secondary

Grip musclesBrachioradialis

Equipment

Cable

Pattern

Wrist flexion

Setup

  1. 01Attach a straight bar to the low pulley.
  2. 02Grip the bar underhand at about shoulder width.
  3. 03Sit on a bench facing the stack or stand with arms hanging in front of the thighs.
  4. 04Fix the elbows so only the wrists can move.

Execution

  1. 01Let the bar roll down toward the fingers and the wrists extend fully.
  2. 02Curl the wrists up, closing the fingers and flexing the palms toward the forearms.
  3. 03Pause at peak flexion against the cable.
  4. 04Lower under control back to the open-hand stretch.

Checkpoints

  • -The forearms stay still; only the hands travel.
  • -The bar is allowed to roll into the fingers at the bottom for full range.
  • -Cable tension never disappears at the bottom of the rep.

Common mistakes

  • -Curling with the elbows and biceps instead of the wrists.
  • -Using a heavy load that cuts range to a small pulse.
  • -Dropping the weight instead of lowering it through the fingers.
  • -Shrugging or leaning back to move the stack.

Programming notes

  • -Use 2 to 4 sets of 15 to 25 reps at the end of a session.
  • -Forearms recover fast; 2 to 3 sessions per week is reasonable.
  • -Pair with the cable standing back wrist curl to train both sides of the forearm.

Related exercises

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