Exercise guide · Beginner · Compound

EZ-Barbell Standing Wide Grip Biceps Curl: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The EZ-barbell standing wide grip biceps curl is a strength exercise targeting the biceps, with secondary emphasis on the forearms. It involves curling an EZ barbell with a wide grip while standing.

Primary muscles
Biceps
Secondary muscles
Forearms
Equipment
Ez Barbell
Level · type
Beginner · Compound
Demonstration of the ez-barbell standing wide grip biceps curl
Front view: muscles worked by the ez-barbell standing wide grip biceps curl. Primary: biceps. Secondary: forearms.
Back view: muscles worked by the ez-barbell standing wide grip biceps curl. Primary: biceps. Secondary: forearms.
Primary Secondary

How to do the ez-barbell standing wide grip biceps curl

  1. Step 1: Stand up straight with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold the ez barbell with an underhand grip, hands wider than shoulder-width apart.
  2. Step 2: Keep your elbows close to your torso and your upper arms stationary throughout the movement.
  3. Step 3: Curl the barbell up towards your shoulders by contracting your biceps.
  4. Step 4: Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the barbell back to the starting position.
  5. Step 5: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the ez-barbell standing wide grip biceps curl by training goal
Goal Sets Reps Rest Effort
Strength 3–5 3–6 3–5 min 1–3 reps in reserve
Muscle growth 3–4 6–12 2–3 min 1–2 reps in reserve
Muscular endurance 2–3 12–20 1–2 min 1–3 reps in reserve

Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.

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