Calves: toes pointed in, toes pointed out

[yeahbuddy289]

Any of you guys believe that changing the position of your toes changes the area of the calf being worked? And if it does, is it actually worth doing?

[73rr]

I don't no if it actually does anything but I do change up the position of my feet.

It might be all in my head that it helps. It's just what I always have done.

Another thing that has helped put some shape to my calves is working them at the beginning of my workout and not at the end. (someone on this forum suggested it to me and I really like it)

[Buster Brown]

I don't buy it. I believe in training them heavy and that they can be trained often. Even though I only hit them a few times a week ( they're really not my main focus) since I have stopped distance running I have noticed that they have thickened up considerably instead of looking stringy from being chewed up and consumed from jogging.

[almostgone]

I do vary foot position from 1 lift to the next, but I think incorporating both seated and standing calf raises is more critical than foot position.

[novastepp]

I do vary foot position from 1 lift to the next, but I think incorporating both seated and standing calf raises is more critical than foot position.

I agree with, AG.

[TheTaxMan]

Cant say wether or not it makes a difference, if anything it would make a difference in the shape rather than bulking them.

I certainly have toes pointing inwards, outwards and straight, just feels good all round for me

[jimmyinkedup]

I do vary foot position from 1 lift to the next, but I think incorporating both seated and standing calf raises is more critical than foot position.

I think this is spot on and I do the same. I never adjust foot position so that it is uncomfortable at all but I do vary it- my thought is this- it wont hurt anything. Having said that I believe that seated or standing makes much more of a difference than toes in/out.
Calves are largely genetic but I do believe this, they need to be trained heavy.

[kelkel]

they need to be trained heavy.

This...

[yeahbuddy289]

I train them heavy twice a week. I incorporate drop sets and tripple drop sets, control the negative and squeeze at the top and focus on getting a full range of motion. I'll do standing calf raises at the gym, then come home later that day and do seated raises.. my gym does not have one of these machines so I had to go out and buy my own.

[tempest818]

Yes from my own experience, cant speak for others. Forgive my ignorance of the anatomy of the muscle but i like to start with raises with toes pointed in to work the outer part then pointed straight ahead to focus on inner. Otherwise i feel that one part dominates the majority of the movement while the other isnt worked to its full potential.

[novastepp]

I'd like to say that I move my feet during calves because I can flex differently. It doesn't work a different part of the muscle, but I can flex and contract my calves differently with different toe/foot placement; that is the benefit.

[ianstevson]

dont believe it makes difference

[SidVicious77]

What does seem to work for me is pushing with the big toe vs pushing with the little toe - well the ball of the foot on those sides actually.

[22-250]

What's considered heavy for calves?

[novastepp]

What's considered heavy for calves?

To me, it has to do with a personal rep range. For me, if I can load a weight that allows me to do standing calf raises where I fail or have trouble flexing fully, at or soon after the 10th rep, seems to do it for me.

Whereas if I was to do body weight, I could probably perform 30+ before getting close to that mark. I feel that calves adapt quickly to workouts using moderate weight, so if using moderate weight, they are a body part that can handle increased frequency; some would even say the same for heavy.