Six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates has publicly condemned the barbell preacher curl, calling it “unproductive and dangerous” in a recent Instagram post. The exercise, which involves curling a barbell while seated on an angled bench, has drawn criticism from Yates for its uneven resistance curve and injury risks. “No, no, no, no. Never, ever ******* do this exercise. Never,” he said, demonstrating the movement’s flaws.
Yates explained that the barbell preacher curl creates “massive tension on the tendon here” at the bottom of the rep but “nothing at the top,” making it inefficient for muscle growth. He highlighted the exercise’s resistance curve, noting that gravity pulls the bar straight down, creating the most force when the forearm is horizontal and less tension as the arm approaches vertical. “Because this is gravity at the bottom, there’s loads of tension and then they come up, it falls off,” he said.
Preacher Curls Risk Biceps Tendon Tears
Yates’ concerns about injuries are supported by documented cases of biceps tendon tears during preacher curls. Filmed ruptures often show an almost straight elbow and a palm-up grip at the moment of injury—precisely the position he criticizes. “So very unproductive and dangerous at the same time,” he added. The exercise’s design, he argued, places excessive strain on the biceps tendon without effectively engaging the muscle throughout the movement.
Alternatives to the Barbell Preacher Curl
Yates advocates for machines like the Nautilus, which provide “the same tension from the beginning all the way through the movement.” While cables do not automatically ensure constant tension, they can be adjusted to maintain resistance where the barbell preacher curl falters. A ten-week study comparing barbell and cable preacher curls found similar biceps growth, suggesting both tools can be effective. However, Yates emphasized that “when the job is building muscle, there are no bonus points for choosing the most hardcore-looking piece of equipment.”
Despite his critique, Yates did not dismiss the barbell preacher curl entirely. He acknowledged that heavy weights and intense training remain central to muscle building, but urged athletes to “choose your tools wisely.”
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