Let's put a twist on this discussion. What strength and/or kettlebell exercise, that _isn't_ a calf raise or similar, do you find works the calf muscles best? I'll hold my own opinion back for a bit.
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Other/Mixed Calve training for the heart
- Thread starter the hansenator
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Other strength modalities (e.g., Clubs), mixed strength modalities (e.g., combined kettlebell and barbell), other goals (flexibility)
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Olympic lifting seems to require a lot of the calves, with that triple extension.
Calves got sore when I was messing with the 24kg kettlebell mile and on my Q&D substitute, which was dbl 32 farmers for 60 yards in around 16-17 seconds x 10, every 3:00.
My vote is going to 1-leg contralateral kettlebell deadlifts.
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Hung
Level 8 Valued Member
It's strange that I never feel my calves working during clean or snatch.
I don't feel it either, but I don't doubt they are producing significant force, though briefly.
Antti
Level 10 Valued Member
Any loaded carry with serious weight. Maybe as the best, or the worst, the yoke carry with its inherent instability. But then again, it may prove precarious at times. And even if I typically prefer the suitcase carry for the extra ab work, using both hands is likely better for the calves.
It's the not-briefly that I think hits at least my calf muscles in a way I'm noticing.
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As would be the case with bicycling, too. Calves produce force for many hours on end, but each contraction is not super strong. Slow-twitch. Calves have a lot of slow-twitch fiber, especially soleus.
On the opposite end of the muscle fiber spectrum would be a very brief, very strong contraction as with Olympic Lifting. Fast-twitch fiber. Gastrocmenius has a lot of fast-twitch fiber.
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Calf Anatomy | All About the Calf Muscles
The calf anatomy includes the gastrocnemius and the soleus. Learn about both of these muscles, their locations and their functional anatomy.
www.kingofthegym.com
Training the Calves
The calves have always been thought of as a very stubborn muscle to make grow. In this article, I look at some of the potential reasons this is the case.
From the above article by Lyle McDonald:
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Bauer
Level 8 Valued Member
That is quite interesting. Tim Anderson recommends hopping/skipping (building up to 10 minutes) for training your Springs and Slings.
@Steve Freides: Dancing often works the calves more than you might expect.
Yes. My wife grew up dancing and still does it very well, and she has calf muscles that put mine to shame.
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Alan Mackey
Level 7 Valued Member
Loaded carries on uneven terrain seem to hit my calves quite a bit.
Yes, I'll agree with this one, too - it's a good reason to do things like trail hiking, which I almost never do, rather than walking on streets and sidewalks, which I do every day. In places where there is a grass strip between the sidewalk and the street, I sometimes try to walk on that.
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Erik Hournou
Level 7 Valued Member
TGUs I feel force me to root myself at every stage of the movement
watchnerd
Level 8 Valued Member
Anything that involves triple extension and getting up on my toes.
With a barbell, heavy snatch grip high pulls from the hang tended to make my calves explode.
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