Calf raises... how much resistance?

X

Xerxes

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So now I use a pair of 30 pound dumbbells for most of my exercises, inculding standing and seated calf raises. I do a 3x10 exercise with them, though they don't fell to challenging, I can usually do all 30 reps without stopping.
Afterwards there's a very mild burn that lasts a short time, though that's it.
My question is, to noticably increase the strength in my calves, about how difficult should this exercise be? Should I use a weight where I'm struggling to finish the exercise?
I'm not sure how you should exercise calves, though now I fell like I'm mostly wasting energy with it.
 
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You should use a weight so heavy that the lasts reps in the set are really tough. Try standing on one leg, that way you get all the resistance on one calf at the time.
 
Calf raises are one of the exercises I see performed with improper form the most, even by some very experienced trainees who would never perform other movements that way! A lot of people go too fast, with jerky uncontrolled movements and a severely restricted range of motion (and then wonder why their calves lag in development). Try moving a little slower and getting a full stretch and a complete stop at the bottom of each rep and a full extension and a full stop at the top of each rep and they will seem a lot harder with whatever resistance you have available.
 
i'm a genetic freak. I can use any standing calf raise machine, put the pin in the bottom (full stack) and do several sets of 20 reps.

so 30lbs dumbbells doesn't sound like enough to me.
 
Yeah, I see a lot of people demo this exercise with no block, though I made a calf block out of some lumber. (Hopefully it lasts better than my last one...)
Yesterday I tried the single leg calf raises, it had somewhat more resistance, though mainly I found it easier to go slower and through a further range of motion.
 
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