Exercise library / Biceps

Zottman Curl

Main muscles
Biceps
Also works
Forearms
Equipment
Dumbbell
Level
Intermediate
Type
Isolation · Pull

How to do it

  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. Make sure the palms of the hands are facing each other. This will be your starting position.
  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. Hold the contracted position for a second as you squeeze the biceps.
  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. Slowly begin to bring the dumbbells back down using the pronated grip.
  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. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Quick answers

What muscles does the Zottman Curl work?
Mainly the biceps, with help from the forearms.
What equipment do I need?
Dumbbell.
Is it good for beginners?
It is rated intermediate level.
How do I track progress on it?
Log each set and beat the weight or reps from last time. Liftrung shows your last set beside the next one and estimates your one-rep max from your sets.

More biceps exercises

Exercise descriptions: free-exercise-db, public domain.