Alright guys my upper body quads and hams are coming along nicely BUT (big BUT) my calfs are LACKING. Now I know alot of guys my age just care about upper body but im not one of them! I want some huge CALVES!... What do you find is the best way to train them... set numbers rep numbers frequency? any ideas?!

I like to train my calves heavy with the standing calf raise machine - I'll pound out 10-12 reps until failure, and then drop the resistance 40 pounds or so and go at it again until failure.

I think calves training involves a lot of trail and error. My calves are a weak point too. I do think that heavy weight is really important for calve training. I mean, even just one of your calves can comfortably support your own weight, so in the gym I think you really need to pound them.

I also think a combination of full range of motion and partial reps are important. With partial reps, you can do a weight heavy enough that you couldn't really do full range. I also like stripping with calves; doing as much as you can with a certain weight, then dropping the weight, doing a few more reps, and so on until your calves are burning like crazy!

Brutal, heavy training + adequate rest periods between training sessions + time + bulk diet = big calves? You have to factor in genetics too. But I think almost everyone can develop their calves to be a somehwat bigger than they already are.

I experienced my best calf growth using DC style...10+ second full stretch at the bottom, explosive contraction, and 10 second negative...each rep...sets of 20 if I remember correctly...

I agree, stretching and focusing on the negatives goes a long way with any muscle - I try to incorporate fascia stretching as much as possible.

Originally Posted by SoCo4Fun

I experienced my best calf growth using DC style...10+ second full stretch at the bottom, explosive contraction, and 10 second negative...each rep...sets of 20 if I remember correctly...

That sounds brutal... good ideas people.

i've read this great advice on calves --> high reps with limited rest in bet sets.

why? muscle fibers of the calves are different from other parts of the body and need different stimulation. for most, going heavy with low reps don't do much for calves.

so i used to do 6 sets, 12 reps per set. two sets with toes straight, two sets with toes out, two sets w/ toes in.

after a few months, progress stopped. i increased weight, reduced reps, didn't help.

so i took the "high reps, little rest in between sets" advice.

i reduced the weight, tried for 20 reps per set, going up to 6 sets, with 30 sec between sets.

result: my calves have never been this sore and growth has been noticeable. my calves get so sore that i limp for days after this work out.

keep in mind, i'm genetically blessed with calves. however, this "high rep, little rest bet sets" has worked great.

I second the high rep lower weight scheme for building my calves. Me and a lifting buddy would go in and do something like 20 half reps from fully extended (down) to neutral position then rest 30 seconds, 20 reps from neutral position to fully contracted (all the way up) then rest 30 seconds, then 20 full range reps. did 3 sets of this and was limping for a couple days afterwards everytime. We called it 'crazy calves'. saw some pretty good growth, but hated not being able to walk normal.

Ok- here is my recipe for large calves- I have a buddy who has had trouble getting size on his for a long time.

1-weight that you have to mentally push yourself for 5-7 extra reps to make 20 because it burns too bad

2-Stretch for a solid 20 seconds immediately after the set

3- do this for 3 or 6 sets with 20 seconds rest after each stretch, making sure the change toe angles from pointed out, center and pointed in.

4- same procedure for standing or sitting, but alternate each week which one you do as they work different muscles in the calves.

I have found that using the arc machine on a very high resistance tends to work them pretty well.

So I guess there are numerous ways to train the calves. Seems like the general consensus is heavy and intense. Makes sense, since the calves are capable of quite a bit without actually over exertion. Usually just one of your calves can easily support your own bodyweight, so it would make sense that if you were wanting to overload them you'd have to subject them to very heavy workloads. I also agree with short rest times. If I'm ever working out with someone else, we usually do our sets right after one another.

my calves got larger the more I ran, and doing tons of leg presses on a machine with upwards of 8 plates or so on each side they are also nicely cut.

I like this high rep suggestion, I might put this to use very soon...

keep in mind that every step you take walking is equivilent to 1 1/2 your body weight, so heavy calf work seems prudent.

my calves have always been a lagging bodypart. once I got to 230 plus and walking on incline and on toes I noticed some at least decent calves and not twigs. I have also have semi long calves which helps look fuller.Seated Calve raises low reps

i have always felt calves were like forearms. you either have them or you don. sure, work can be done but i think those real meaty ones are god given!

lets see calf pics to see what you got.

I think there are some people with the twig calve gene and some that just dont work them right but have good potential. If you got the true twig calves gene (generally africanamericans over other races) then you are kinda sh1t outta luck imo.

If i havent done calves for a week (1 a week) then i will give them alot of reps and heavy weight. You can try this on seated calve machine (plate loaded) do some warmups and a lil stretching first. Put a weight on that you get just 20 good all the way down and good contraction on top then lower slowly reps. Now after you complete your 20 reps then stay there under the pads and with little rest go again and try to get 16-20 reps then short rest and repeat. The idea is you will only take short enough rests to get in really good reps, the reps should be declining. I go to about 80 reps total (never start counting over) and when im at 80 i usually only get about 4-6 reps. I go to 100 reps and sometimes ill add some weight on the way. Around 100 you want to be at like 1 or 2 reps even if that means putting more weight.

Now if i train more often during the week, like less volume but say 3x a week then i will just go really really heavy but make sure its not so heavy that you cant lower slowly and contract strong at the peak and hold. I will do that until i cant then i will just pound it out with the faster bouncy type reps that just burn you to further failure. Stretch afterwards really good and flex your calves often.

heres mine from feb 1st at 225 lbs..

YouTube - Feb 1st 2009 posing

mine are 17 by no means small compared to my 29 inch legs there not proportional I don't think. They not bad they could work work though

Best way is high volume, without a doubt.

Originally Posted by smeton_yea

heres mine from feb 1st at 225 lbs..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PXqqGMKxEw

mine are 17 by no means small compared to my 29 inch legs there not proportional I don't think. They not bad they could work work though

yours are alot like mine, not entirely proportional but look fine.

yeah they look fine. mine are only like 18 1/2.

whats the go between seated and standing? whats better? I like to do both cause I recon they each target different sections of the calf... but... I do seated first and try ****ing myself up on that cause I was told by 1 person its better and hits a more crucial area of the muscle ??

any input on this?

thanks

Start playing the drums with double kickers!!

Originally Posted by soseg

whats the go between seated and standing? whats better? I like to do both cause I recon they each target different sections of the calf... but... I do seated first and try ****ing myself up on that cause I was told by 1 person its better and hits a more crucial area of the muscle ??

any input on this?

thanks

if your gonna do em, i think standing, cause then you add your body weight into the equation as well, imo.

Originally Posted by soseg

whats the go between seated and standing? whats better? I like to do both cause I recon they each target different sections of the calf... but... I do seated first and try ****ing myself up on that cause I was told by 1 person its better and hits a more crucial area of the muscle ??

any input on this?

thanks

Do both, they work different parts of your calves. Standing work primarily the gastrocnemius, whereas seated works primarily the soleus. Also, try unilateral calve raises, i.e. standing one-legged calve raise.

Originally Posted by SoCo4Fun

I experienced my best calf growth using DC style...10+ second full stretch at the bottom, explosive contraction, and 10 second negative...each rep...sets of 20 if I remember correctly...

yup,....DC really shocked my calves in terms on growth. Also I think the forced stretches play a BIG part too.

Also try anterior calf raises. Sit down on a bench,... put a 25lb plate on the ground, and another on one of your feet and use the opposite hand to "hold" the weight up as you do raises. The front of my calves are coming in with a nice "rounded" look b/c of these.

heres a guy doing them standing,.. I prefer sitting though:

YouTube - HITCH FIT.. Reverse Calves.. Micah LaCerte

i do those supersetted sometimes with my normal raises.
remember to use variation from time to time too!

Originally Posted by brk_nemesis

yup,....DC really shocked my calves in terms on growth. Also I think the forced stretches play a BIG part too.

Also try anterior calf raises. Sit down on a bench,... put a 25lb plate on the ground, and another on one of your feet and use the opposite hand to "hold" the weight up as you do raises. The front of my calves are coming in with a nice "rounded" look b/c of these.

heres a guy doing them standing,.. I prefer sitting though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxvJ6Uk0eOM

I did these with a 90lb dumbbell seated, I cramped up like a girl within 12 reps.

Originally Posted by p00ndawg

I did these with a 90lb dumbbell seated, I cramped up like a girl within 12 reps.

yup i started off heavy, 45lb plates then upward for DB's, till i found that lower weight and a 5-10 sec hold at top and bottom for 15-20 reps gave me alot better results.

Drop sets= calve money