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Dumbbell Alternating Hammer Curl
A neutral-grip curl performed one arm at a time, building the brachialis and forearms while each side rests briefly.
ArmsDumbbellIsolation curl
GoLightWeight mediadumbbell-alternating-hammer-curl
Demonstration coming soon
Primary
BicepsBrachialis
Secondary
BrachioradialisForearms
Equipment
Dumbbell
Pattern
Isolation curl
Setup
- 01Stand tall with a dumbbell in each hand, palms facing your thighs.
- 02Pin the elbows to your sides and soften the knees slightly.
- 03Brace the trunk so the torso stays still.
Execution
- 01Curl one dumbbell toward the shoulder, keeping the palm facing inward.
- 02Squeeze at the top, then lower with control to full elbow extension.
- 03Curl the opposite arm while the first arm rests at the bottom.
- 04Alternate sides for equal reps per arm.
Checkpoints
- -Neutral hammer grip held for the entire rep.
- -Elbows stay pinned at the sides, not drifting forward.
- -Torso stays upright with no side-to-side lean.
- -Full extension at the bottom of every rep.
Common mistakes
- -Swinging the torso to help the working arm.
- -Shortening the bottom of the rep to keep the pump.
- -Letting the elbow drift forward and turning it into a front raise.
- -Rushing the alternation so neither arm lowers under control.
Programming notes
- -Use 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps per arm; the built-in rest lets you go slightly heavier than two-arm curls.
- -Progress with small dumbbell jumps while keeping the torso motionless.
- -Pairs well with supinated curls to cover both elbow flexor grips in a session.
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