Barbell Curl vs EZ-Bar Curl
Same movement, different bend in the bar. On a straight bar your palms face fully up; on an EZ bar they turn slightly in.
| Barbell Curl | EZ-Bar Curl | |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles | biceps, brachialis | biceps, brachialis |
| Equipment | Barbell | EZ bar |
| Entry bar | 1/3 fine from your first workout | 1/3 fine from your first workout |
| Pick it when | Your wrists don't mind and you want the biceps working with the palm fully up. | The straight bar bothers your wrists or elbows. |
The main difference
A straight bar fully turns your forearm palm-up, and that's one of the biceps' jobs — so it works at full strength here. But not every wrist and elbow is comfortable in that position, especially under heavy weight.
On an EZ bar your palms turn slightly inward: easier on the wrists, while the biceps still does the main work and the difference in load on it is small. The weight is usually nearly the same. If the straight bar bothers your wrists, take the EZ and don't fight it.
Can you do both
Yes, but there's little point doing both on one day — they're nearly the same lift. Pick the one that feels better, or swap them every few weeks. Log them separately in the diary: the weight on them doesn't always match.
In which programs
Log both in the diary — your estimated max will show which one is growing faster for you.
Prefer Telegram? Open the bot — same diary.