TETSUBarbell Palms Up Wrist Curl Over A Bench vs Smith Seated Wrist Curl
The Barbell Palms Up Wrist Curl Over A Bench and the Smith Seated Wrist Curl both train the forearms as their primary muscle. The Barbell Palms Up Wrist Curl Over A Bench uses a barbell while the Smith Seated Wrist Curl uses a smith machine. Here is how they compare and when to pick each.
Side-by-side comparison
| Barbell Palms Up Wrist Curl Over A Bench | Smith Seated Wrist Curl | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary muscle | forearms | forearms |
| Body part | lower arms | lower arms |
| Supporting muscles | biceps and shoulders | biceps and brachialis |
| Equipment | barbell | smith machine |
| Steps in our guide | 5 | 6 |
How each one starts
Barbell Palms Up Wrist Curl Over A Bench — first steps
- Sit on a bench with your feet flat on the ground and hold a barbell with an underhand grip, palms facing up.
- Rest your forearms on the bench, allowing your wrists to hang off the edge.
Smith Seated Wrist Curl — first steps
- Sit on a bench in front of a Smith machine with your feet flat on the ground.
- Grasp the barbell with an underhand grip, hands shoulder-width apart.
Full step-by-step guides are linked below.
Which should you choose?
The Barbell Palms Up Wrist Curl Over A Bench lets you load the heaviest weights and progress in small, steady jumps. The Smith Seated Wrist Curl fixes the bar path so you can push close to failure with less balance demand. If your gym has both options, neither is a wrong choice: pick the one that feels strongest through a full range, and swap after 6 to 8 weeks to keep the forearms adapting.
Full form guides
Common questions
Is the Barbell Palms Up Wrist Curl Over A Bench better than the Smith Seated Wrist Curl?
Neither is universally better — both train the forearms as the primary mover. The Barbell Palms Up Wrist Curl Over A Bench lets you load the heaviest weights and progress in small, steady jumps, while the Smith Seated Wrist Curl fixes the bar path so you can push close to failure with less balance demand. Choose based on your equipment and which movement you can progress consistently.
Can I do both the Barbell Palms Up Wrist Curl Over A Bench and the Smith Seated Wrist Curl in the same program?
Yes, but usually not in the same session — they overlap heavily on the forearms. A common setup is one as your main movement and the other on a second training day, or alternating them block by block.
Do the Barbell Palms Up Wrist Curl Over A Bench and the Smith Seated Wrist Curl work the same muscles?
The primary muscle is the same: the forearms. Supporting muscles differ slightly — biceps and shoulders for the Barbell Palms Up Wrist Curl Over A Bench versus biceps and brachialis for the Smith Seated Wrist Curl.
Track it in Tetsu
Tetsu tracks both movements separately, keeps your PRs per exercise, and tells you which one is actually progressing. Free to start.