calves

[1badmofo]

I have strong calves and they are growing well so far, but never fast enough for me. I am tall so it takes a lot to really show. I do straight leg calf raises, and have been doing the seating raises (legs bent). That just seems to work the muscle behind the calf. Will this help with size and shape, or is it a waste of time? Also, I am using a lot weight usually as much as I want to load on the machine (not trying to show off), slow movement and high reps, full stretching movement. Is this safe to avoid tendon injury?

 

[JayC]

I have strong calves and they are growing well so far, but never fast enough for me. I am tall so it takes a lot to really show. I do straight leg calf raises, and have been doing the seating raises (legs bent). That just seems to work the muscle behind the calf. Will this help with size and shape, or is it a waste of time? Also, I am using a lot weight usually as much as I want to load on the machine (not trying to show off), slow movement and high reps, full stretching movement. Is this safe to avoid tendon injury?

Hey brutha! Wow, you don't look tall in your avi?? ..but from the look on your face I can tell your calves are strong!! lol J/K
Here's my take on it.. besides the fact the calves can really be a genetic thing. My trainer has told me that calves are like abs, they can really be worked daily. Not that you have to, but they can be. I would recommend "confusion training" meaning, switch up.. trying varying exercises and go heavy, light-hi rep, heavy, light/hi rep, etc..
We do one where you either put the bb on your back (like squats) or hold some DB's in both arms.. then you do three contiuous sets, 1) toes pointed all the way in, 2) toes pointed normal, and 3) toes pointed out. You do like 10-15 slow, then 10-20 fast for the burn, for each.. then repeat a few times. Works different parts of the calf for each toe position. Great exercise! Just an idea

 

[TheMilkMan]

I like what JayC has suggested and it has worked for me in the past. I try to train my calves at least 2x a week and recently I have been doing this.

3 straight sets of 15-20 reps as heavy as I can go
1 set DC Calf Training 12 reps
DONE

DC Calf Training calls for a 5 second negative, 10 seconds stretch, and an explosive positive... I use about 60% of the weight I normally would, and it smokes my calves. They have NEVER grown better.