Why are calves such a "genetic" muscle?

[HGH]

One has to wonder how many genetically gifted bodybuilders are out there but the just never found bodybuildng interesting. Think about how many talented people there must be but they never found their niche.

I think about this ALL THE TIME. I see guys who are naturally stout and big-boned and just KNOW they'd be monsters if they gave a shit.

I have 6.5" wrists and was never meant to be big. I was 5'10" 155# in my mid-late 20s. So yeah I have always noticed stouter dudes.

 

[HDH]

I had trouble with them until I started treating them like everything else, I started killing them.

Just like anything else, lots of mixing and doing different things. Foot placement, high reps, low reps, iso holds, negatives, stretching between each set, etc...

I started getting the most out of them with long iso holds and slow negatives while stretching but mixing was a must.

This is just my experience and I do agree that genetics play a big part but we sometimes have to ask ourselves, have we really turned every stone?

H

 

[schultz1]

Calves are largely genetic. Then couple it with the fact that they endure multiple reps on a daily basis from walking running climbing etc on a day to day basis, \he training of them needs to be heavy. I trained the he'll out of my calves in my 20's. Always he a year with some old school power lifters. Haven't trained them in years and they are still good. Short story long, heavy is better imo. When it comes to calves.

 

[schultz1]

I think 90% of bodybuilding is half genetics. The other half is hard work. 50% is nutrition and rest. And the remaining 90% is drugs.

I 100 percent agree with 25 percent of this post but, only 50 percent of the time.

 

[woodswise]

I think 90% of bodybuilding is half genetics. The other half is hard work. 50% is nutrition and rest. And the remaining 90% is drugs.

Well bro, I hate to disagree with such a good friend, but I think 75% of bodybuilding is one half genetics and hard work, and the other half of the 75% is nutrition and rest. The remaining 25% is all about having great sex!

 

[IronInsanity]

Just ask Dennis Wolf........

 

[1bigun11]

Well bro, I hate to disagree with such a good friend, but I think 75% of bodybuilding is one half genetics and hard work, and the other half of the 75% is nutrition and rest. The remaining 25% is all about having great sex!

I love it when you talk science and sex with me in the same conversation......c'mere tiger! lol

 

[Akhusker]

Wouldn't it have to be based on bone (structure) size and heights, toss in the way a person walks and you have small or huge calves. Idk just my theory

 

[JR Ewing]

In 27 years, I've piled large amounts of muscle onto everything else, especially quads, hams, hips / glutes, back, chest, shoulders, and arms (pretty much in that order), going from 135 lbs to 230 or so of mostly muscle.

My calves are far bigger, harder, and more peaked and developed than they were 27 years ago when I started, but they're still high and short and "small" relative to the rest - especially compared to my huge legs. They were pretty much nonexistent when I started, and have always been stubborn.

I use a full ROM, moderate weights, and a deliberate motion. Donkey calf raises are a favorite.

Here's a typical routine, done before hamstrings:
Standing calf raise (pyramid): 1 set x 15 reps; 1 set x 12 reps; 3-4 sets x 10.
Seated " " : 3-4 x 10-15
Donkey " " : 3 x 10-12

 

[EastMade]

IMO, it isn't the routine that matters, for growth it's all about training the muscle hard and achieving a solid pump, feeding the muscle and rest (obvious).

Of course the person with the superior genetics, whatever muscle that may be will always have the better development, even putting less work in - fact. Case and point, I've talked to multiple older gentlemen at my gym about their calves when I noticed the crazy development, size and visible fibers twitching as they walked..... They informed me that they didn't even work calves at all. That just goes to show - genetics play a huge role.

 

[DrB]

I read somewhere that Reg Park used to do calf raises with 1000lbs