calf training

[Bently]

Ok, 1st thing for myself, I believe i have good genetics when it comes to calves as they've become fairly big with minimal work (at least in the way of volume).
Now what I'm wondering is how most of you others train calves:

1) do you train them on same day as quads/hams or do them with another unrelated bodypart?

2) how many sets/reps?

3) how many exercises?

4) frequency?

 

[crankin'stein]

I do them on the same day as quads (I don't do hams on that day..)

I use a pyramid style for my rep ranges. I use 4 sets per exercise.. and I like to do a burnout set for the last set... Usually 2 exercises.... once a week. And my calves are the same size as my arms.... like they should be.

 

[Bently]

geesh...gues me & crank are the only ones who train calves?!?!?!?


KR

 

[homonunculus]

Have tried various things, but best seems to be heavy, low reps, like 5 set of 6-8, once every 5 days or so.

German volume training is always nice now n' then.

Another fav. is to load the leg press up to about a 6-8 rep max. Fail, strip a plate, go to failure (2-3 reps). Strip a plate and go to failure. Continue for 8-10 stages or until I can get the same # reps as I got on the first set. Also kinda nice b/c most of the weight is racked by the time you're done... LOL

-R

 

[saturn]

I do calves with traps and hams the day after quads. I have good calves. I do 2 movements 4-6 sets each.

 

[DoTsTeR]

I do them on the same day as quads (I don't do hams on that day..)

I use a pyramid style for my rep ranges. I use 4 sets per exercise.. and I like to do a burnout set for the last set... Usually 2 exercises.... once a week. And my calves are the same size as my arms.... like they should be.

Man.. if my arms were half as violent as my calves I would look like a monster. My calves are just plain huge and long.

 

[GetnBigr]

I've always had pretty decent calves, even back when I was a twig @ 6'1" and 146lbs my calves were developed nicely

training wise:
2 excercises

standing calf raises
seated calf raises

and I alternate each workout between high reps and high weight

may not be the best but it works for me

 

[raybravo]

once a week :
standing calf raises 4 sets - around 12 -15 reps , last set rest paused , go as heavy as possible here .
then 2 sets of donkey raises , have a 200 lb person sit on me and basically rep out to failure .
and i have calves which are close to 18 inches ... no complaints here as yet .

 

[Skip]

The single best way to bring up your calves in my opinion is to train the gastroc and soleus on different days. Soleus training can follow gastroc training but not the other way around.

I was given good advice early on: you can't have big gastrocs without a big, thick soleus to sit them on. Made sense to me.

Oh, and my calves were TWIGS when I started. I would certainly be considered genetically disadvantaged in that area.

Skip

 

[sweatmachine]

Im not calf-monster ( 20" ish calves here)
But I have had pretty good results doing this:
I train my calves medium weight /high reps 20-30 reps for 5 sets on leg day.
2-3 times per week I train calves with heavy weight/low rep-5-10 reps for 5 sets.
I believe that muscle fiber like calves need extra training due to the fact that they are so heavily worked on a daily basis doing day to day things. It only makes since the need a new stimulus to grow. i.e. weighted,very controlled, full range. and very often..Just my 2 cents.....

 

[supersport]

I think Skip has posted a good idea on a different thread recommending that calf training be done without shoes, especially high tops. I have the worlds worst calves i am sure...i always wear high tops...