Are Calves REALLY Up to Genetics?

If there’s one muscle that people seem to make the most excuses around, it’s the calves.

The small muscle group that sits on the back of our lower legs.

The people that do have big calves argue that it comes down to hard work and proper training, whilst the people who lack mass in those areas complain that it’s entirely dependent on your genetics.

These isn’t a single other muscle group that gets debated on as much as the calves do.

Given that, which side of the argument is right?

Are the calves really genetic? Or does it simply come down to hard work and smart training?

Here’s a brief breakdown of it.

First Things First: Genetics Do Have a Role

I need to get it out of the way first.

Genetics do play a massive role when it comes to your calf muscles.

In fact, they play a massive role in just about any muscle group. They play a massive role in all of bodybuilding.

Whether your genetics are affecting the size of your muscle bellies, the length of your limbs, the muscle-to-tendon ratio or whatnot, genetics are a large determining factor in your success when it comes to the gym.