How many pull-ups can you do?

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nonameo

Diamond Member
Mar 13, 2006
5,902
2
76
at least 16, maybe more... but I weigh 130lbs :)

I'll test it for you tonight.
 

GoSharks

Diamond Member
Nov 29, 1999
3,053
0
76
I haven't done a real set for a long time, but I should be able to do >20 pretty easily. I'm 5'7", ~115-120# and lead (climb) 5.12s regularly outside.
 

crimson117

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2001
2,094
0
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How far do you have to descend before you start pulling back up to make it count as one pullup?

I can do 6 max if I do full arm extension - like dead hang with straight arms, up to chin over bar, and back down to dead hang = one pullup. I usually do 2 sets of 5 of these at the end of my workout.

If I just barely brought my nose below the bar each time, then I don't know how many of those I could do but it'd be more than 6 :)


edit: 6'0, ~175 lbs
 

sash1

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2001
8,896
1
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i have a pull-up bar in the other room, i could go test this out right now
 

HN

Diamond Member
Jan 19, 2001
8,186
4
0
Originally posted by: crimson117
pullup = palms facing out.
chinup = palms facing in.

How far do you have to descend before you start pulling back up to make it count as one pullup?

I can do 6 max if I do full arm extension - like dead hang with straight arms, up to chin over bar, and back down to dead hang = one pullup. I usually do 2 sets of 5 of these at the end of my workout.
The bolded part is what will be expected of us.

Thanks again everyone for helping out, it's much appreciated :thumbsup:
 

HN

Diamond Member
Jan 19, 2001
8,186
4
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Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
OP, How much do you do and what you weigh?

edit: 1234 post!
Last tested 09/18/07
25 @ 140lbs

I do pull-up / chin-up workouts about once a week (some days bodyweight, some days will be weighted, some days will be negatives). other days i'll just throw them in as a warm up.

I found out about the competition yesterday after my workout so i'm going to retest as part of tonight's workout.
 

GoingUp

Lifer
Jul 31, 2002
16,720
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71
If I'm not allowed to rock back and forth? 8 easy, probably closer to 12 at absolute failure.
 

Captante

Lifer
Oct 20, 2003
30,353
10,877
136
I used to be able to do 25-30 back when I weighed 180 & was in great shape ... these days I weigh about 205 & the max is a dozen or so in one set.
 

HN

Diamond Member
Jan 19, 2001
8,186
4
0
Retested last night: 26 / still 140.
I think if i can pace myself for 30 i'll be in good position.
 

gotsmack

Diamond Member
Mar 4, 2001
5,768
0
71
10 in good form in 1 go.

150 lbs.

The real question is how do I train to be able to do a 1 handed pull up?

I grabbed on to the bar with one arm and before I began to pull up I felt all of the strength leave my upper body.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: MegaVovaN

btw: anybody know how to increase pull-up count? What muscles to train and how?

My max was around 30 pullups at 190lbs. I worked out ALOT then.

Upper back and shoulders are going to be most of it. Lat pulldowns is a great way to start training or pullup machines that allow assistance.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: michaelsslave
the max ive ever been able to do was 23 chin ups with my palms facing away from me instead of towards me like most people do.

You did a pullup not a chinup then.

Chinups are palms towards the face...main muscles are lower lats and biceps. Much easier exercise.

 

cw42

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2004
4,227
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to you guys with the high numbers, are you doing a full extension or how far down ru going?
 

adairusmc

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2006
7,095
78
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Originally posted by: cw42
to you guys with the high numbers, are you doing a full extension or how far down ru going?

All the way down to a dead hang, then bring my chin completely over the bar. I also do not raise my knees at all, and if I do, they do not come back down until I am at a dead hang (so there is no chance of cheating my way up over the bar). It was the way we had to do them when I was in the military, and it is still the way I do them now. Anything else is not a real pull-up, period.
 

HN

Diamond Member
Jan 19, 2001
8,186
4
0
Originally posted by: cw42
to you guys with the high numbers, are you doing a full extension or how far down ru going?
I like to think that in this case, everyone is following the OP and posting their strict pull up numbers as that's what they'll be looking for in the upcoming competition.

having said that, in the last few months, i've actually switched to more kipping pull-ups now as i do more cardio/mixed weight/high intensity routines vs. just doing heavy weights. turns out that i've been able to increase my strict pull-up numbers more consistently than when i did only strict pull-ups.

i think before, i couldn't do any more pull-ups because i ran out of gas and not strength. now with the power and endurance that the kipping pull-ups build, i'm able to do more when i switch to strict. I'm not endorsing one over the other (i say do both actually); just saying what may have worked for me.

*edit*
Heh, this roll back the clock thing is going to mess with post order for a few hours.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: cw42
to you guys with the high numbers, are you doing a full extension or how far down ru going?

No one should be counting reps unless they are full. For a pull up it's bar to chest down to arms extended.

Grip should be just a tip wider than shoulder width