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Why do tricep kickbacks get so much hate?

DKD

Private Dancer
School me.

Answers such as 'coz they're gay' can be inserted into a convenient orifice rather than this thread.

I have at times had elbow soreness from skullcrushers, and sometimes with pushdowns there's a temptation to cheat, form gets compromised and other muscles get worked. With kickbacks its pretty hard to work anything other than triceps. Are they an effective exercise choice for a workout program?
 
I am only speculating, however, i would think one reason they get so much hate is it is very hard to go "heavy" for tri kickbacks, compared to close grip bench, tri extentions, dips, skull cruches etc etc.

Therefore, when talking about weight lifted it is generally a poor comparison and people would prefer to been seen lifting or moving more weight then be seen doing kickbacks with 10kg db's
 
What about parallel bar dips DKD, do you do them?

As for kickbacks, I think if you're already huge and can move huge poundages they have their place to bring up lagging triceps for competition but that wouldn't apply to most.
 
What about parallel bar dips DKD, do you do them?

As for kickbacks, I think if you're already huge and can move huge poundages they have their place to bring up lagging triceps for competition but that wouldn't apply to most.

Yep, dips are one of my favourite exercises, especially since I can't bench, but I focus on chest with them so always like to do additional tricep work. I've been doing pushdowns in recent times but tried kickbacks the other night.
 
I didn't know they got hate. I use them occasionally, they burn like mad! I guess they do look a little girly perhaps thats why...
triKickback.jpg
 
School me.

Answers such as 'coz they're gay' can be inserted into a convenient orifice rather than this thread.

I have at times had elbow soreness from skullcrushers, and sometimes with pushdowns there's a temptation to cheat, form gets compromised and other muscles get worked. With kickbacks its pretty hard to work anything other than triceps. Are they an effective exercise choice for a workout program?

Firstly if there is a temptation to cheat, then I suspect your trying to move more weight than is required.

DKD, have you tried different hand positioning?

The pushdown is a movement that, in a sense really places and emphasis on the tricep group, using a rope and having hands positioned that way makes the elbow *joint*more stable, so less prone to inflammation.
As with most cable machines it's an exercise that really works the triceps from start to finish.

By now at your age you really need to find movements that aren't going to create irritation, and stick with them.
 
Last edited:
Yep, dips are one of my favourite exercises, especially since I can't bench, but I focus on chest with them so always like to do additional tricep work. I've been doing pushdowns in recent times but tried kickbacks the other night.

Are the bars angled for different grip widths?
 
Yep, dips are one of my favourite exercises, especially since I can't bench, but I focus on chest with them so always like to do additional tricep work. I've been doing pushdowns in recent times but tried kickbacks the other night.

This is flawed thinking.

It's not possible to isolate the pecs, triceps are doing the bulk of the work here regardless of what angle your torso's at.

But note the position of your hand on the dip bar, similar position is required when doing pushdown, or any torso movement for that matter.
 
Are the bars angled for different grip widths?

No, straight handles on the standard dip attachments you see on most power racks. I lean forward, rather than stay upright, to work the chest.

This is flawed thinking.

It's not possible to isolate the pecs, triceps are doing the bulk of the work here regardless of what angle your torso's at.

But note the position of your hand on the dip bar, similar position is required when doing pushdown, or any torso movement for that matter.

As per above, I'm leaning forward in 'chest dip' style. I wasn't suggesting I try to isolate the pecs with this exercise. My main objective is to feel the sternum getting worked, but of course the triceps do get worked quite well too.
 
Yep, you can't isolate any one particular muscle, your body doesn't work like that, although you can emphasise a body part.
Due to the very nature of the movement, dips are primarily a triceps exercise.
 
I find dips put a enormous amount of pressure on my shoulders, I tend to avoid them. I like them but it takes a few weeks to get into them with no pain
 
I think it's just another tool in the toolbox. For me, I like having as many ways as possible to hit a muscle because I'm regularly training around niggling injuries (usually from social sport). That and the gym gets busy so dip stations aren't always free, I'm time poor at gym and moving dips to the end doesn't work for me.

Otherwise, I am a big fan of them (and dumbbell rows) for the reason noted by Mayhem.
 
Do skullcrushers with dumbells in a neutral hand position.

You wont look like an idiot doing kickbacks and its more effective/easy on the elbows.

Lock out your arms at about 30 degrees from vertical to maintain tricep tension.
 
There is always this one massive dude that does them
Other than that they are fairly useless. I knew someone that tore his triceps and kickbacks were the only thing that didn't hurt
 
Why can't you bench DKD??
I would have thought bench, dips, overhead pressing would be the best value for triceps?


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