Barbell Calf Raises

How to do it

1. Set a bar across your upper back as for a squat and stand on a step or plate with the balls of your feet.
2. Heels hanging off the back, legs straight but knees soft.
3. Let your heels sink into a stretch.
4. Press up onto your toes and pause.
5. Balance is the limit here, not strength - stand near a rack.

Muscles it trains

Percent of one session's target for that muscle. Anything at 100% finishes that muscle on its own.

How it compares

Compared with the Standing Calf Raises, it loads Calves 15 points lower, Forearms 10 points higher. It needs Barbell where the other uses Machines. Compared with the Barbell Push Press, it loads Front delts 85 points lower, Calves 65 points higher, Triceps 60 points lower.

Other ways to train this

• Standing Calf Raises Machines
• Seated Calf Raises Machines
• Hack Squat Calf Raises Machines
• Dumbbell Calf Raises Dumbbells
• Single-Leg Calf Raises Bodyweight
• Smith Machine Calf Raises Smith machine
• Bodyweight Calf Raises Bodyweight
• Donkey Calf Raises Bodyweight
• Plate-Loaded Donkey Calf Raise Machines

Other exercises for the Calves

• Barbell Push Press 20% BarbellProfessional
• Barbell Thruster 20% BarbellIntermediate
• Barbell Squat 10% BarbellIntermediate
• Front Squat 10% BarbellProfessional

Exercise illustrations and data by RepDB (repdb.co), used under licence.