The only case of evidence for calf training actually working is Arnold

[unwieldy]

Does calf training really work or is it all genetics?

[BigRo]

It works if there is some genetic response there. Either way its good to do, even if someone's calves remain skinny at least they will be stronger which is more important than just appearing larger.

[unwieldy]

It works if there is some genetic response there. Either way its good to do, even if someone's calves remain skinny at least they will be stronger which is more important than just appearing larger.

Dorian implied that the English have great calf genetics.

[AbrahamG]

The late Pellius (RIP)built very good calves from nothing. It can be done but rare indeed.

[unwieldy]

The late Pellius (RIP)built very good calves from nothing. It can be done but rare indeed.

Any insights to how he did it? Or was it genetic after all?

[NaturalWonder83]

Jay Refrigerator Cutler spoke about growing his calves after his sister mocked them.

Some fellow spoke about growing his calves by doing calf raises on a dictionary. I thought I read about him here on Getbig? But maybe it was Bodybuilding.com?

[unwieldy]

Jay Refrigerator Cutler spoke about growing his calves after his sister mocked them.

Some fellow spoke about growing his calves by doing calf raises on a dictionary. I thought I read about him here on Getbig? But maybe it was Bodybuilding.com?

I have heard a lot of such stories, but I have only seen evidence of one; Arnold

[Griffith]

Jay Refrigerator Cutler spoke about growing his calves after his sister mocked them.

Some fellow spoke about growing his calves by doing calf raises on a dictionary. I thought I read about him here on Getbig? But maybe it was Bodybuilding.com?

That was Pellius.

He did high rep bodyweight calf raises on each leg.

He posted that on Ironage, maybe on here as well.

[IroNat]

That was Pellius.

He did high rep bodyweight calf raises on each leg.

He posted that on Ironage, maybe on here as well.

MTwain calf thread.

Go to Reply #18

https://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=156877.0

[unwieldy]

MTwain calf thread.

Go to Reply #18

https://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=156877.0

Damn those are some sweet gains. I am going to try this.

[Zillotch]

looks like synthol

[BigRo]

Definitely, looks ugly.

[Henda]

I’ve never trained mine serious for any length of time and they one of my best body parts, have trained them 6 months straight and seen zero difference

[IroNat]

Arnold had pretty good calves before he made his miracle calf gains when he went to Europe.

[Van_Bilderass]

Mentzer always said genetics can only properly be gauged in retrospect. So if someone actually got great calves down the line it means he always had the genetics to do it... duh!  Of course this could be cope on my part since I didn't succeed with my calves, yet guys like Arnold and Pellius did, maybe I'm covering for my substandard lazy effort. Or something...

Nick Walker's genes were in deep hiding at his first show. He made a herculean effort, aided by some pharmaceuticals, and didn't listen to to the naysayers and proved genes can be overcome.

[Methyl m1ke]

Dorian Yates.

[loco]

Dorian implied that the English have great calf genetics.

"Your Majesty no one has calves like yours."

[Irongrip400]

My calves suck, almost -aj- esque. I don’t ever train them though, but not sure what came first the chicken or the egg so to speak. I did jump rope for a bit and did notice some better development from it and figured I could just stop since I’ve been walking around at 235-250 for 20 plus years but to no avail. My dad has shitty calves too.

[unwieldy]

My wife has great calves, as far as I know she never exercised a day in her life and they are nearly bursting through her jeans. 

[pamith]

I never had good calf genetics but they grew over time, you gotta train them hard, real hard, with both low and high reps, and stretch between sets

[beakdoctor]

Most people do 20 to 30 sets for their chest, same for back, same for quads. 15 to 20 sets for bi's and tri's. Then do 2 or 3 sets of calf raises and wonder why their calves don't grow.

Same for abs. 15 to 30 sets for every other body part but 2 sets of sit ups and wonder why they don't have great abs, of course abs require diet more than anything but still. If you want those muscles to respond the same way chest, back, arms, thighs then you have to train them with the same sets, reps and intensity- if not more for calves.

I think mentzer also commented that you spend your entire life using your calves when standing, walking,  running,  playing a sport etc. They get work everyday of your life, they're not going to grow from a few half-hearted sets.

[Donny]

One thing that Arnold & others of that era did was donkey calf raises. They sweared by them & nowadays not many do them or even know the exercise in today's Gym's
One other exercise I personally like in the gym is using the seated leg press machine for my calf raises..you're basically in a similar position as a donkey calf raise but seated.

[affeman]

One thing that Arnold & others of that era did was donkey calf raises. They sweared by them & nowadays not many do them or even know the exercise in today's Gym's
One other exercise I personally like in the gym is using the seated leg press machine for my calf raises..you're basically in a similar position as a donkey calf raise but seated.

Honestly, I always thought the Donkey calf was a stupid and highly overrated (for nostalgic reasons lol) exercise. You can move more weight, get a better pump and way better peak contraction with the regular standing calf raise, imo it's superior in every aspect to the Donkey (that's also probably the reason hardly any gym has it anymore)

[affeman]

What I often ask myself (my calves suck too btw): Has anyone ever actually tried to really train his calves as hard and committed like other body parts, like chest or back? What would happen if you really would have a separate calves day with like 4 exercises à 4 sets to failure every week?

[SF1900]

People often lump calves and forearms both into the same category; that is, they say both are highly dependent on genetics. But this makes absolutely no sense. Why would calf and forearm development be based more on genetics than chest or back?

I think it’s more to do with the fact that forearms and calves get trained every day due to ordinary use, so are not trained as thoroughly as other body parts.