Calves please guys

[vinylgroover]

I know we've probably done calves to death, but what's the G.O on getting those calves to grow to cows. Obviously genetics is the key, but for those of us who are genetically challenged in the calf department, what's the go;

It would be great to hear from those who are not blessed with genetically great calves who have managed to build them.


Specifically;

Reps: High or low?
Frequency: Once per week, twice, three?
Range of motion: Full or partial?
Foot placement: Does it matter?

 

[jeremys]

i'm sorry, calves are my best bodypart. i've heard that high reps works best, but thats just what i've heard from a couple people

 

[Lord_Suston]

Specifically;

Reps: High or low?
Frequency: Once per week, twice, three?
Range of motion: Full or partial?
Foot placement: Does it matter?

1) high reps, all sets done to failure
2) twice a week
3) full range with a pause at the bottom and top for a good squeeze and stretch
4) try to get the ball of your foot as the lever point so you can go down as far as possible, I don't know about different stances, just alternate seated and standing styles

 

[vinylgroover]

Thanks Suston.

That pretty closely follows what i'm doing now, although i have been keeping reps for my working sets down to 8-10 with good form.

By foot placement, i mean 45 degrees or straight ahead or toes pointing in.

 

[skaman607]

Re: Re: Calves please guys

1) high reps, all sets done to failure
2) twice a week
3) full range with a pause at the bottom and top for a good squeeze and stretch
4) try to get the ball of your foot as the lever point so you can go down as far as possible, I don't know about different stances, just alternate seated and standing styles

running takes your calves to failure, especially hills

 

[Citruscide]

I just do reps until I can't do them anymore... I usually have to load tons of plates on to even work them... They measure around 18-18.5" right now... Hey, I was a high jumper in college right?

C-ditty

 

[BlkWS6]

I got my best results with a moderate rep range (6-8) and heavy weight! But I try to make sure my form is perfect. Full stretch at the bottom and up on the tippy toes for the top portion. I was genetically shafted on calves, but they are/were growing. Here in Az where you can wear shorts almost year round it is hard to hide bad calves and be comfortable. Also, I prioritize the hell out of them. I always do them first now on leg day.

 

[gymtime]

I think range of motion is probably most important with calves. Biggest mistake people make is to load up a bunch of plates on the calf machine and start bouncing away. Worthless.

Get your heel as low as you can on the downward, and point your foot and squeeze the calf on the upward. Pause at the top as well as the bottom, always controlling the weight.

 

[big_bad_buff]

helps if you were fat your whole life....ever notice fat people have huge calves? i guess to support there huge obese bodies. then when they trim down they still have these huge calve muscle, that's a fact.....most people with big calves just have good genetics and they are just naturally big....if your cursed with small calves it takes years and years of hard work to get them big, or even proportioned with the rest of your body.

anyways, i can't help you, mine aren't huge, just proportioned with my body. you must suffer from GCCM (geneticaly challenged calve muscles) like a lot of us Lol.

 

[RusPA81]

Hell, even Arnold had trouble with his calves. Ever notice how allo of his early pictures where all above knee level.