Preacher Curl Machine

The preacher curl machine is a seated biceps isolation station with an angled pad that fixes the upper arms in place. Because the arms cannot swing and the torso cannot help, every rep is the biceps alone — which is why the weight here is always lower than on a standing curl and why the burn arrives sooner. The pad angle also keeps tension on the muscle at the bottom of the movement, the position where a free weight would give you a rest. Set the seat so your armpits sit against the top of the pad rather than hovering above it, or the shoulders start contributing. It suits beginners who have not yet learned to keep the elbows still, and advanced lifters finishing an arm session when form is the first thing to go.