A 180 lb male with an Intermediate-level Nordic Hamstring Curl of 11 lbs ranks at the 50th percentile (FVCP), stronger than ~50% of lifters. An Advanced lifter at this weight lifts 24 lbs (0.13x bodyweight).
FitnessVolt Competition Percentile (FVCP), based on 2.5M+ verified competition results
How strong is your Nordic Hamstring Curl? Compare your 1RM against standards for 21 bodyweight categories, from Beginner to Elite.
How Strong Is Your Nordic Hamstring Curl?
How Much Should You Nordic Hamstring Curl?
1RM weight (lbs) you should be able to lift at each standard, based on your bodyweight.
| BW (lbs) | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 28 | 49 |
| 120 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 28 | 47 |
| 130 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 28 | 46 |
| 140 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 27 | 44 |
| 150 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 26 | 43 |
| 160 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 26 | 42 |
| 170 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 25 | 40 |
| 180 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 24 | 39 |
| 190 | < 1 | < 1 | 10 | 24 | 38 |
| 200 | < 1 | < 1 | 10 | 23 | 37 |
| 210 | < 1 | < 1 | 10 | 22 | 36 |
| 220 | < 1 | < 1 | 10 | 21 | 35 |
| 230 | < 1 | < 1 | 9 | 21 | 34 |
| 240 | < 1 | < 1 | 9 | 20 | 33 |
| 250 | < 1 | < 1 | 9 | 20 | 32 |
| 260 | < 1 | < 1 | 9 | 19 | 31 |
| 270 | < 1 | < 1 | 8 | 18 | 30 |
| 280 | < 1 | < 1 | 8 | 18 | 29 |
| 290 | < 1 | < 1 | 8 | 17 | 28 |
| 300 | < 1 | < 1 | 8 | 17 | 27 |
| 310 | < 1 | < 1 | 7 | 16 | 26 |
| 90 | < 1 | 2 | 16 | 34 | 54 |
| 100 | < 1 | 3 | 16 | 33 | 52 |
| 110 | < 1 | 4 | 16 | 32 | 50 |
| 120 | < 1 | 4 | 16 | 31 | 48 |
| 130 | < 1 | 4 | 16 | 30 | 46 |
| 140 | < 1 | 4 | 15 | 29 | 45 |
| 150 | < 1 | 4 | 15 | 28 | 43 |
| 160 | < 1 | 4 | 14 | 27 | 41 |
| 170 | < 1 | 4 | 14 | 26 | 40 |
| 180 | < 1 | 4 | 13 | 25 | 38 |
| 190 | < 1 | 4 | 13 | 25 | 37 |
| 200 | < 1 | 4 | 12 | 24 | 36 |
| 210 | < 1 | 3 | 12 | 23 | 34 |
| 220 | < 1 | 3 | 11 | 22 | 33 |
| 230 | < 1 | 3 | 11 | 21 | 32 |
| 240 | < 1 | 3 | 10 | 20 | 31 |
| 250 | < 1 | 2 | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| 260 | < 1 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 29 |
How Does Age Affect Nordic Hamstring Curl Strength?
How Nordic Hamstring Curl standards change across different age groups. Values represent a 1RM in lbs.
| Age | Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | Elite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 18 | 33 |
| 20 | < 1 | < 1 | 10 | 25 | 42 |
| 25 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 27 | 44 |
| 30 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 27 | 44 |
| 35 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 27 | 44 |
| 40 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 27 | 44 |
| 45 | < 1 | < 1 | 9 | 24 | 40 |
| 50 | < 1 | < 1 | 7 | 20 | 36 |
| 55 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 17 | 31 |
| 60 | < 1 | < 1 | 2 | 13 | 26 |
| 65 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 9 | 21 |
| 70 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 15 |
| 75 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 80 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 7 |
| 85 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 4 |
| 90 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 |
| 15 | < 1 | < 1 | 9 | 22 | 37 |
| 20 | < 1 | 2 | 14 | 30 | 47 |
| 25 | < 1 | 3 | 15 | 32 | 49 |
| 30 | < 1 | 3 | 15 | 32 | 49 |
| 35 | < 1 | 3 | 15 | 32 | 49 |
| 40 | < 1 | 3 | 15 | 32 | 49 |
| 45 | < 1 | 1 | 13 | 28 | 45 |
| 50 | < 1 | < 1 | 11 | 25 | 41 |
| 55 | < 1 | < 1 | 8 | 21 | 35 |
| 60 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 | 16 | 30 |
| 65 | < 1 | < 1 | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| 70 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 8 | 18 |
| 75 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 5 | 13 |
| 80 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 1 | 9 |
| 85 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 6 |
| 90 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | < 1 | 3 |
What Do Nordic Hamstring Curl Strength Standards Mean?
Stronger than 5% of lifters. You are learning the movement on the Nordic Hamstring Curl, building the controlled movement pattern and mind-muscle connection needed to train the target muscle effectively.
Stronger than 20% of lifters. You can perform the Nordic Hamstring Curl with strict form and a smooth tempo. You are adding resistance progressively without sacrificing range of motion or using body English.
Stronger than 50% of lifters. Your Nordic Hamstring Curl is performed with excellent control and targeted tension. You use RPE to manage isolation work intensity and program it strategically within your training split.
Stronger than 80% of lifters. You have built significant strength on the Nordic Hamstring Curl through disciplined, progressive training. You employ advanced techniques like drop sets, pauses, and tempo work to continue driving adaptation.
Stronger than 95% of lifters. Your Nordic Hamstring Curl strength is at the upper end of what most lifters achieve. You have maximized the target muscle development through years of focused, periodized isolation work.
How to Progress Your Nordic Hamstring Curl
Tier-specific training recommendations to move your Nordic Hamstring Curl to the next level.
- Train the Nordic Hamstring Curl 2x per week with slow, controlled reps.
- Focus on full range of motion and eliminating momentum or swinging.
- Keep sets at RPE 6-7 to develop proper movement patterns.
- Build the mind-muscle connection - feel the target muscle working on every rep.
- Increase load progressively while keeping strict form on the Nordic Hamstring Curl.
- Program 3-4 sets of 8-15 reps at RPE 7-8.
- Add a variation (different grip, angle, or equipment) to address development gaps.
- Place isolation work after your primary compound movements.
- Use drop sets, paused reps, and partial reps to break through Nordic Hamstring Curl plateaus.
- Train at RPE 8-9 with advanced intensity techniques on your last 1-2 sets.
- Manipulate tempo to increase time under tension without compromising form.
- Manage total volume for the target muscle group across all exercises.
- Maximize Nordic Hamstring Curl strength through precise programming and fatigue management.
- Use periodized blocks to cycle between volume, intensity, and deload phases.
- Quality of contraction matters more than load at this level.
- Continuous refinement of technique will yield the remaining gains.
How to Perform Nordic Hamstring Curl
- Kneel on a padded surface with your legs secured under a fixed object or by a partner holding your ankles.
- Keep your body straight from head to knees and engage your core.
- Slowly lower your torso towards the ground by extending your knees, keeping your back straight and hips in line with your body.
- Once you can no longer control the descent, let your hands catch you lightly on the floor.
- Push off the ground slightly to assist in returning to the starting position or use your hamstrings to pull your body back up.
Tips for Nordic Hamstring Curl
- Maintain a straight body line from head to knees throughout the movement.
- Focus on controlling the descent to maximize the eccentric load on the hamstrings.
- Avoid bending at the hips; the movement should come from the knees.
- If you're a beginner, use your hands to lightly push off the ground to assist in returning to the start position.
Where Do These Nordic Hamstring Curl Standards Come From?
These Nordic Hamstring Curl standards are based on 2.5M+ verified competition results from powerlifting, weightlifting, and strongman federations worldwide. Every number comes from a sanctioned meet with certified judges - not self-reported gym lifts. Data is sourced from OpenPowerlifting and other verified competition databases, ensuring accuracy you can trust.
Last Updated: March 30, 2026
Reviewed by the Fitness Volt Editorial Team, certified strength training analysts.
Is Your Nordic Hamstring Curl Good for Your Weight?
Strength standards help you objectively measure your Nordic Hamstring Curl performance relative to other lifters of the same bodyweight and sex. Here is how to interpret them:
- Find your bodyweight in the left column of the table above.
- Look across the row to find which strength level your 1RM falls into.
- Use the age tab to see how your strength compares within your age group.
- Switch between Male and Female standards using the toggle - each has its own dataset.
If you do not know your 1RM, use the E1RM Calculator to estimate it from any rep set. For example, if you can Nordic Hamstring Curl 185 lbs for 5 reps, the calculator will estimate your max.
These standards are derived from 2.5M+ competition results across powerlifting, weightlifting, and strongman federations worldwide, combined with community training data.