How to Do Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls

Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls — start position demonstration photo
Start
Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls — end position demonstration photo
End

Start and end of one clean rep of Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls.

Quick facts

Primary muscleBiceps
Secondary muscles—
EquipmentDumbbell
CategoryStrength

How to perform Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls

  1. Hold the dumbbell towards the side farther from you so that you have more weight on the side closest to you. (This can be done for a good effect on all bicep dumbbell exercises). Now do a normal incline dumbbell curl, but keep your wrists as far back as possible so as to neutralize any stress that is placed on them.
  2. Sit on an incline bench that is angled at 45-degrees while holding a dumbbell on each hand.
  3. Let your arms hang down on your sides, with the elbows in, and turn the palms of your hands forward with the thumbs pointing away from the body. Tip: You will keep this hand position throughout the movement as there should not be any twisting of the hands as they come up. This will be your starting position.
  4. Curl up the two dumbbells at the same time until your biceps are fully contracted and exhale. Tip: Do not swing the arms or use momentum. Keep a controlled motion at all times. Hold the contracted position for a second at the top.
  5. As you inhale, slowly go back to the starting position.
  6. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Muscles worked

  • Biceps (primary): bends the elbow and turns the palm up during pulls and curls.

Sets & reps by goal

GoalSets × repsLoadRest
Strength3–5 × 3–5Heavy (~85%+)2–3 min
Hypertrophy3–4 × 8–12Moderate (~65–75%)60–90 s
Endurance2–3 × 15–20Lighter (~50–60%)30–45 s

Pick the row that matches your goal. If you're newer, anchor in the hypertrophy range while you groove the form.

Form tips

  • Keep the upper arm still and pinned to your side so the movement happens only at the elbow.
  • Each side works on its own, so match the depth and speed of both arms and don't let the stronger side take over.
  • Treat every rep the same — a repeatable setup and bar path is what lets you add weight safely over time.
  • Breathe out on the effort and in on the return, keeping one steady rhythm across the set.

Common mistakes

  • Swinging the torso to fling the weight up instead of actually curling it.
  • Letting the dumbbells drift apart or clang together at the top instead of controlling the path.
  • Chasing weight jumps before the current load feels solid on every rep.

Frequently asked questions

What muscles does Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls work?

Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls is a focused movement that primarily works the biceps.

What equipment do I need for Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls?

Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls needs a pair of dumbbells.

How many sets and reps should I do for Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls?

It depends on your goal: about 3–5 sets of 3–5 heavy reps for strength, 3–4 sets of 8–12 for muscle growth, or 2–3 sets of 15–20 for endurance. Pick the row that matches your goal. If you're newer, anchor in the hypertrophy range while you groove the form.

Train Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls with a coach in your pocket

Gimmy is your AI gym buddy — it programs Flexor Incline Dumbbell Curls into recovery-aware workouts, tracks your sets, and shows one score that tells you if it's working.

Get early access

Related biceps exercises