Exercise Library / Arms

Zottman Curl

How to do the Zottman Curl with proper form, and the muscles it works.

Muscle group
Arms
Primary muscles
Biceps
Secondary muscles
Forearms
Equipment
Dumbbell
Type
Isolation
Level
Intermediate

Video: “How to Perform Zottman Curls | Bicep / Forearms Exercise Tutorial” by Buff Dudes Workouts on YouTube.

How to do the Zottman Curl

  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.

Muscles worked

The Zottman Curl mainly works your biceps, with help from your forearms.

Zottman Curl start and finish positions

Zottman Curl: Starting position
Starting position
Zottman Curl: Ending position
Ending position

Track your Zottman Curl progress

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