Increasing my pull up counts

[darkdiablo]

I admit, my pull ups are the worst lifts. I can barely do 6 reps for the first set, then 4 reps for the second, then barely 3 for the last set. (I'm on the 3x5 rip). I was wondering how I can increase my reps, just doing them regularly? Or should I also do negative pull ups when I can't do anymore normal pull ups?

 

[brikis98]

At the stage you're at, just keep doing pull-ups and you'll get better at them. Almost any strategy will work: a 3x5 of pull-ups 1-2 times per week, a Grease the Groove approach, tabata pull-ups, etc.

 

[darkdiablo]

Originally posted by: brikis98
At the stage you're at, just keep doing pull-ups and you'll get better at them. Almost any strategy will work: a 3x5 of pull-ups 1-2 times per week, a Grease the Groove approach, tabata pull-ups, etc.

What about negative pull ups? Where I jump and lower myself slowly?

 

[brikis98]

Originally posted by: darkdiablo

Originally posted by: brikis98
At the stage you're at, just keep doing pull-ups and you'll get better at them. Almost any strategy will work: a 3x5 of pull-ups 1-2 times per week, a Grease the Groove approach, tabata pull-ups, etc.

What about negative pull ups? Where I jump and lower myself slowly?

Those are useful if you can't do any pull-ups yet, but since you can, those aren't going to benefit you a whole lot and are just likely to produce lots of soreness with little benefit. Just keep doing pull-ups, don't go to failure too often, and you'll get better.

 

[Ktulu]

Honestly just give it time and don't get discouraged and stop doing them. This time last year I could barely do 5 good ones total. Now I can do 3 good sets (18,15,12).

 

[TallBill]

Just keep doing them. Also, if you can find a partner to push up on your feet after you've hit failure that's one way to squeeze out a few more.

 

[MrMatt]

Do 50 pullups every time you work your back. Doesn't matter how many sets you take. Just do 50. The first time I tried, it took me 15 sets to get it done. I went like 9, 8, 7, 5, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2,2,2,2,2,1,1. Two months later I went something like 17, 14, 12, 10 (53 total). Just do it.

 

[darkdiablo]

Originally posted by: MrMatt
Do 50 pullups every time you work your back. Doesn't matter how many sets you take. Just do 50. The first time I tried, it took me 15 sets to get it done. I went like 9, 8, 7, 5, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2,2,2,2,2,1,1. Two months later I went something like 17, 14, 12, 10 (53 total). Just do it.

hmm, sound interesting, I think I'll give this a go, and see what happens. Thanks matt

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: MrMatt
Do 50 pullups every time you work your back. Doesn't matter how many sets you take. Just do 50. The first time I tried, it took me 15 sets to get it done. I went like 9, 8, 7, 5, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2,2,2,2,2,1,1. Two months later I went something like 17, 14, 12, 10 (53 total). Just do it.

What? No way, that is not the number you should start with. Honestly, if you can only do 6 reps at max, you should start with a much lower number (something around 20 or 25 total).

Also, the Grease the Groove technique is much more efficient. It works way quicker and is much less taxing on the central nervous system.

 

[darkdiablo]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: MrMatt
Do 50 pullups every time you work your back. Doesn't matter how many sets you take. Just do 50. The first time I tried, it took me 15 sets to get it done. I went like 9, 8, 7, 5, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2,2,2,2,2,1,1. Two months later I went something like 17, 14, 12, 10 (53 total). Just do it.

What? No way, that is not the number you should start with. Honestly, if you can only do 6 reps at max, you should start with a much lower number (something around 20 or 25 total).

Also, the Grease the Groove technique is much more efficient. It works way quicker and is much less taxing on the central nervous system.

Can you describe Grease the Groove to me?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: darkdiablo

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: MrMatt
Do 50 pullups every time you work your back. Doesn't matter how many sets you take. Just do 50. The first time I tried, it took me 15 sets to get it done. I went like 9, 8, 7, 5, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2,2,2,2,2,1,1. Two months later I went something like 17, 14, 12, 10 (53 total). Just do it.

What? No way, that is not the number you should start with. Honestly, if you can only do 6 reps at max, you should start with a much lower number (something around 20 or 25 total).

Also, the Grease the Groove technique is much more efficient. It works way quicker and is much less taxing on the central nervous system.

Can you describe Grease the Groove to me?

Just google it, man. First link I got

 

[MrMatt]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: MrMatt
Do 50 pullups every time you work your back. Doesn't matter how many sets you take. Just do 50. The first time I tried, it took me 15 sets to get it done. I went like 9, 8, 7, 5, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2,2,2,2,2,1,1. Two months later I went something like 17, 14, 12, 10 (53 total). Just do it.

What? No way, that is not the number you should start with. Honestly, if you can only do 6 reps at max, you should start with a much lower number (something around 20 or 25 total).

Also, the Grease the Groove technique is much more efficient. It works way quicker and is much less taxing on the central nervous system.

Start at 50. If you aim for 25, you'll be ready to quit by 20. Aim for 50. Use the patented "Don't be a bitch" training method. Just aim for 50 pullups. Don't matter how many sets it takes. Just do it. It might take you 20 sets the first time. If so, great. The next time you do it when it only takes you 18 you're going to feel great. Just do 50 reps. I know plenty of people that could only do 4 or 5 and they all started with 50. By only going for 20 or 25 your first times you're setting yourself up for failure. Only going for 25 you'll probably hardly add any to that figure of 6. Go with 50.

 

[katank]

Volume is key no matter what you go for. Ladder (do 1, then 2, then 3, etc. Upon failure go back down to 1 and repeat is a great way to increase the volume). Getting a doorway pullup bar and cranking out a few every time you walk through that doorway is another.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: MrMatt

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: MrMatt
Do 50 pullups every time you work your back. Doesn't matter how many sets you take. Just do 50. The first time I tried, it took me 15 sets to get it done. I went like 9, 8, 7, 5, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2,2,2,2,2,1,1. Two months later I went something like 17, 14, 12, 10 (53 total). Just do it.

What? No way, that is not the number you should start with. Honestly, if you can only do 6 reps at max, you should start with a much lower number (something around 20 or 25 total).

Also, the Grease the Groove technique is much more efficient. It works way quicker and is much less taxing on the central nervous system.

Start at 50. If you aim for 25, you'll be ready to quit by 20. Aim for 50. Use the patented "Don't be a bitch" training method. Just aim for 50 pullups. Don't matter how many sets it takes. Just do it. It might take you 20 sets the first time. If so, great. The next time you do it when it only takes you 18 you're going to feel great. Just do 50 reps. I know plenty of people that could only do 4 or 5 and they all started with 50. By only going for 20 or 25 your first times you're setting yourself up for failure. Only going for 25 you'll probably hardly add any to that figure of 6. Go with 50.

Or... you could set a goal of 25 and keep it. Starting at 25 would 1) be less time consuming, 2) be less discouraging, 3) induce less soreness, 4) lower chances of CNS fatigue, etc. Starting with 50 is a uneducated way to go about it. You know what happens when you do a movement a large number of times that you're not used to? Injury. You have to ease into increasing pullup number just like everything else. If I said I wanted to make my way up to running a half marathon, would it be best to train at a half marathon distance and "Don't be a bitch" about it? No, I would work my way up to it. Grease the Groove has quicker results anyhow so I don't quite know why you're suggesting this.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

I second the Grease to the Groove method. Works great. Might be beneficial to pick up an iron gym.