Is Muscle Symmetry More Important Than Mass for Judges

I recently competed in a show in Toronto and I ended up in fourth place even though I was definitely the biggest guy in my class. The feedback I got was that my left quad was slightly smaller than my right and my lats were uneven. This has me wondering is muscle symmetry more important than mass for judges in the current era?

It is very frustrating to put on ten pounds of lean muscle only to lose to someone who is smaller but more balanced. I am working with a trainer now to fix my imbalances using unilateral movements like Bulgarian split squats and single arm rows. It is a slow process but I want to make sure I do not have any glaring weaknesses next time.

Do you think the judges are becoming more strict about symmetry? I have noticed at the pro level that guys with amazing balance like Derek Lunsford are doing very well. I would love to know if I should stop chasing size and focus purely on my lines for the next six months.

I've seen this happen plenty of times in the UK. You can be as big as a house, but if one lat is higher than the other or your quads don't match, the judges will penalise you. Symmetry is the foundation of the 'aesthetic' look they want these days.

Totally agree with LondonLad. Down here in the States, especially in the NPC, they always say mass without symmetry is just a 'pile of muscle.' If you can't show a balanced X-frame, the smaller guy with the perfect lines is going to take the trophy every time.

I disagree to an extent. If the mass gap is huge, the bigger guy often wins on 'wow factor' alone. I’ve been to shows in Chicago where the guy with the most freakish size got the nod despite some obvious structural imbalances. It really depends on the panel.

MidwestMike has a point, but that's usually only in Open Bodybuilding. If you were in Classic or Physique in Toronto, MapleLeafFan, then symmetry is 100% king. Did the judges mention anything about your flow or balance in the feedback?

I’ve judged a few shows in BC, and we look for 'distractions.' An asymmetrical physique creates a distraction that breaks the flow of the posing routine. You want the judge's eye to move smoothly over your body, not get stuck on a lagging body part.

They said my right quad was noticeably smaller than my left. I had an injury last year and I guess the recovery isn't quite 100% yet. It's frustrating because I worked so hard to put on that extra 10lbs of lean mass.

There you go, mate. That 10lbs of mass actually made the quad imbalance look even worse. The bigger the muscle, the more obvious the asymmetry becomes.

LondonLad is spot on. It's like a magnifying glass. If you're 180lbs with an inch difference in quads, it's one thing. If you're 220lbs, that inch looks like a mile.

Have you tried posing tweaks to hide it? Sometimes a slight rotation of the hip in the front relaxed can mask a quad size difference. It’s all about the 'illusion' on stage.

I disagree with hiding it too much. If the judges catch you trying to 'trick' the angle, they might mark you down even harder for lack of transparency. Honesty in posing is underrated.

Actually, Mike, 'hiding' weaknesses is exactly what pro posing is. Look at the greats—they all turned or tilted just enough to present their best side. It's not trickery; it's presentation.

I’ll definitely work on the posing. But should I stop heavy squats and just focus on unilateral work for a while? I don't want to lose the mass I've built.

Definitely add some unilateral work. Split squats and single-leg extensions are your best friends now. You don't have to quit the big movements, but make sure the strong leg isn't doing 70% of the work.

Don't overthink the 'mass' loss. If you lose a little total weight but look more balanced, you'll actually look 'bigger' because the eye isn't drawn to the weak spot.

Exactly! Symmetry creates the 'comic book' look. Look at some of the guys in the UK Pro leagues—they aren't the heaviest, but their lines are so perfect they look like they were drawn with a ruler.

I still think if a guy walks out looking like a literal fridge, symmetry takes a backseat. Total muscle volume has its own score in the 'mass' category of the sheet.

Only if you can condition it, Mike. A mass monster who is watery or asymmetrical is just a mess. MapleLeafFan, what was the conditioning like for the top 3 compared to you?

They were definitely tighter. I was probably at 90% conditioning, but the winner was shredded. He was probably 15lbs lighter than me though.

There’s your answer. Conditioning + Symmetry > Pure Mass. Every single time.