Serious question about "Kickbacks" Triceps/DB excersise

[Stark]

I hear that a lot: kickbacks (as in the exercise for Triceps) is only good for definition and not for "mass".
Makes me wonder, if you do kickbacks correctly: as in pause a second on the top and squeeze the tricep, it's painful as shit and 2 days after I can hardly move my arm.
So if all you need in order to stimulate muscle grow is to "tear" the muscles? Why wouldn't Kickbacks not do exactly that?

[Croatch]

Very common exercise people fuck up.  Every gym beast needs to swing the weight, not squeeze, wrong angle, and do far too much weight.  If done right at the end of a routine, I can barely do 12lbs for 15...haha  That's with a 1 second squeeze.

[JasonH]

I hear that a lot: kickbacks (as in the exercise for Triceps) is only good for definition and not for "mass".
Makes me wonder, if you do kickbacks correctly: as in pause a second on the top and squeeze the tricep, it's painful as shit and 2 days after I can hardly move my arm.
So if all you need in order to stimulate muscle grow is to "tear" the muscles? Why wouldn't Kickbacks not do exactly that?

Any exercise can be used for mass IMO - definition comes with diet, not with doing certain exercises.

[Stark]

Any exercise can be used for mass IMO - definition comes with diet, not with doing certain exercises.

that's what I thought, but you hear that stuff everywhere ala: Hey dude why aren't you doing cable pushdowns?
Ah they are only for definitian.

[smaul]

that's what I thought, but you hear that stuff everywhere ala: Hey dude why aren't you doing cable pushdowns?
Ah they are only for definitian.

I know Lee Priest uses cable pressdowns as a power exercise purely for mass.   Seems to work for him. 

[Stark]

I know Lee Priest uses cable pressdowns as a power exercise purely for mass.   Seems to work for him. 

All sgurD

[GoneAway]

this should be in training section. lol

kickbacks isolate the tricep better than cable pressdowns, but generally wont give u as much growth.

[Playboy]

I hear that a lot: kickbacks (as in the exercise for Triceps) is only good for definition and not for "mass".
Makes me wonder, if you do kickbacks correctly: as in pause a second on the top and squeeze the tricep, it's painful as shit and 2 days after I can hardly move my arm.
So if all you need in order to stimulate muscle grow is to "tear" the muscles? Why wouldn't Kickbacks not do exactly that?

For mass you need skull crushers and single dumbbell presses behind the neck as you can go heavier with these two core movements. Kickbacks are a great way to finish your triceps workout.

[Montague]

So if all you need in order to stimulate muscle grow is to "tear" the muscles? Why wouldn't Kickbacks not do exactly that?

Perhaps it is more accurate to say that kickbacks DO build some size, just not as much as bigger, heavier, compound movements.

I know Lee Priest uses cable pressdowns as a power exercise purely for mass.   Seems to work for him. 

Lee has admitted in written interviews that he has done his share of CG presses, skulls, and other compound basics over the years to develop an incredible base, and he still incorporates some of those movements into his training today, despite the fact that his DVD series rarely shows him doing so.
But remember, you're not always seeing the entire workout, and some of those vids show him training contest prep when really heavy stuff is usually ommitted at that point.

Regardless, with his foundation, muscle maturity, and phenomenal arm genetics, he can probably afford to get away from the excessively heavy stuff to simply maintain what he's got.

Probably not the best advice for a beginner to follow when looking to add size.

[Croatch]

Any exercise can be used for mass IMO - definition comes with diet, not with doing certain exercises.

haha, How true.  My favorite is when someone tells me their just "toning up", so going high reps.   Strange, I'm usually more ripped and do 8 reps on many exercises...haha
Toning up = I don't want to lift weight that's too heavy
You only hit different muscle fibers by increasing your reps above 12 or so.

[pumpster]

kickbacks isolate the tricep better than cable pressdowns, but generally wont give u as much growth.

How do you know this?

Kickbacks are a great way to finish your triceps workout.

This is the usual response, never with any rationale behind it.


Any exercise that works the muscle effectively is worth doing, whether isolation or compound it'll help growth if the weight used is progressively increased.

I suggest a more effective version, pulley kickbacks using a mid-level pulley-it takes more of the rear delt out of the exercise than the DB free weight version.

[AVBG]

There's no such things as "mass" only exercises. People who think otherwise should workout more and read less junk from the news stands. Any exercise done correctly ie good form and with decent weight will help.

[pumpster]

There's no such things as "mass" only exercises. People who think otherwise should workout more and read less junk from the news stands. Any exercise done correctly ie good form and with decent weight will help.

lol thank you

[GoneAway]

How do you know this?

simple logic - u cant use as much weight on it as u can with a pressdown. more force that is pushed against the moving joint, the bigger the muscle will grow.

[pumpster]

simple logic - u cant use as much weight on it as u can with a pressdown. more force that is pushed against the moving joint, the bigger the muscle will grow.

That's dubious & simple logic; if absolute weight was the only criteria, only one exercise would be needed for each muscle, the one in which the heaviest weight is used. On tris that would mean no pressdowns, only close-grip benches. Which for many is not the most effective in terms of hitting all triceps heads equally well.

More important is finding the most effective exercises.

[GoneAway]

yes, definately. it's all about stimulating the muscles in a way that suits ur structure, muscle origins/insertions, etc. that said, the best exercise will be the one that feels the best at the highest weight for the rep range u want to lift and the results u want to achieve. but if u cant, then of course u need to find the next heaviest weight or maximum force.