Big calves

[Nathan]

I've been noticing this more and more lately - big calves tend to not so much be a consequence of calf raises, but rahter of heavy, compound movements like heavy SLDLs, squats and good mornings - especially good mornings.

There is one exercise in particular I just started doing to bring up my hams that inadvertently caused my calves to grow more than anything else (my hams did grow too). Basically, it is as easy as putting down a towel, resting your knees on it and having somebody press down on your feet. Then, lower your torso down to the ground, and back up again using your hamstrings to do the work. Make sure you keep your lower back straight and rigid.

I made an effort to bring up my hams but let my calf training fall off over a period of about 2 months - I mostly just did the same thing I usually do for them. And I noticed a big difference in my calves after about 8 weeks. The first week, I couldn't even get off a rep on my own, but by the time I could do 9 reps or so I was getting comments on my calves. It took me the entire 2 months to figure out what it was that was making my calves grow too. SUPERSTAR. Anyways, give it a go.

 

[H_T_]

so, you're doing GHR's, without the aparatus? i use the lat tower, facing away from the machine and kneeling on the pad. using a broomstick to help lower myself and pull up with ham-strength. but you really think it's a helper for calves? never thought of it that way.....

 

[s8nlilhlpr]

i've never really noticed results from calf-raises. I've seen tons of guys at the gym repping away for 2 yrs with no progress.

 

[silver_shadow]

i never do calf raises and i've got big calves.

 

[Scotsman]

Run hills and stairs, no better way to brutalize the calves.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[Tweakle]

When I stop training calfs they shrink to nothing in a matter of weeks.

Spot injections with home-made gear can add 3" in a couple of days, sadly not the kind of size you really want... plus not being able to walk didn't help leg workouts.

 

[AEKDB]

I've been noticing this more and more lately - big calves tend to not so much be a consequence of calf raises, but rahter of heavy, compound movements like heavy SLDLs, squats and good mornings - especially good mornings.

There is one exercise in particular I just started doing to bring up my hams that inadvertently caused my calves to grow more than anything else (my hams did grow too).

One of the best benefits of power and oly lifting is that the calves must grow to provide support for the leg/ankle and provide power for standing lifts.

I believe that the more articles found on how to develop a muscle group, the more likely power and oly lifts are the only way to develop the muscle group :
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/bbinfo.php?page=Calves


Do you think this guy ever did seated calf raises:

 

[coolcolj]

calves work on the knee joint as well, not just the ankle...

 

[blut wump]

Scotsman has the crux if this one. Add in hill-cycling, the uphill part, anyway. The downhill part is more fun but less stressful on the calves.

 

[Sassy69]

Calves are a beast because they dont' respond like most of the rest of your muscles -- they are slow twitch & need that "sprint" type training it seems to really grow. Consider the PL stuff - its all explosive power moves correct? "Sprint" style.