Arm & Grip

Hammer Curl

A practical movement guide for every Mission SOP that uses this exercise. Sets, reps, load, tempo, and purpose remain specific to each mission and phase.

Movement guide available

Anatomy map

Muscles involved

  • Primary musclesOrange · None
  • Secondary musclesGraphite gray · None
ShaOS anatomy illustration for Hammer Curl, with primary and secondary muscles highlighted
PrimaryBiceps
SecondaryForearms

ShaOS custom anatomy illustration. Visual reference only; movement coaching and muscle classifications remain defined by the Exercise Library.

Description

A neutral-grip curl that develops the biceps, brachialis, and forearms while supporting elbow strength and grip-intensive training.

Setup & Execution

  1. Stand tall holding dumbbells with palms facing the thighs and elbows close to the ribs.
  2. Brace the trunk and curl the weights by bending the elbows without moving the upper arms forward.
  3. Finish before the shoulders roll forward or the forearms lose their neutral position.
  4. Lower the dumbbells slowly until the elbows are fully extended.

Coaching Cues

  • Keep thumbs up.
  • Pin elbows near the ribs.
  • Lower slower than you lift.

Common Mistakes

  • Swinging the hips.
  • Letting the elbows drift forward.
  • Dropping the weights through the eccentric phase.

Movement media

See the movement

Reviewed short loop

Muscle highlight key

  • Primary musclesOrange · Biceps
  • Secondary musclesGraphite gray · Forearms
Published media
Short silent loop · 7 seconds
Reviewed
Sep 3, 2026
Video source
ShaOS production record
30–60 second tutorialplanned
Setup angleplanned
Side angleplanned
Key cue overlayplanned
Captionsplanned
Transcriptplanned

Accessible movement summary

Stand tall holding dumbbells with palms facing the thighs and elbows close to the ribs. Brace the trunk and curl the weights by bending the elbows without moving the upper arms forward. Finish before the shoulders roll forward or the forearms lose their neutral position. Lower the dumbbells slowly until the elbows are fully extended.

Key cue: Keep thumbs up.

The production indicators above are roadmap states, not claims that multi-angle footage, overlays, captions, or a narrated transcript are already available.

Adapt the movement

Regressions & alternatives

Preserve the movement pattern while matching current capacity, available equipment, and the mission environment.

Regression

Seated light hammer curl

Progression

Slow-eccentric alternating hammer curl

Home gym

Resistance-band neutral-grip curl

Commercial gym

Cable rope hammer curl

Used in

Linked Mission SOPs

Upper Strength & GripForge