Lat pulldowns and widegrip pullups

[TecHNooB]

I've been working on my lats for a while and normally did these two workouts. My friend told me recently that both are complete bullshit and that I should stick to pull ups and chin ups. So i've switched to pullups and chinups and the effect it has on my lats are much better (I feel them more when I do the excercise). Anyways, opinions?

Btw, my friend is a complete o-lifting freak and preaches functional strength.

 

[M0oG0oGaiPan]

Pull ups and chins are my favorite back exercises. Sometimes it gets boring doing the same exercises or the gym gets too crowded. Why not mix things up? Throw in some bent over rows/deads/hyperextensions/good mornings whatever.

 

[onlyCOpunk]

You probably feel them because it's something different.

My take on your situation, everyone has their own opinion of what works and what doesn't. You have to find out for yourself what works for you and what your goals are.

 

[KoolDrew]

Lat pulldowns are good if you cannot complete normal pull-ups. However, if you can, you should do pull-ups, preferably weighted pull-ups unless just your bodyweight is enough.

As for wide grip pullups... I wouldn't suggest them. Too much strain on your rotator cuff.

 

[crownjules]

Originally posted by: TecHNooB
I've been working on my lats for a while and normally did these two workouts. My friend told me recently that both are complete bullshit and that I should stick to pull ups and chin ups. So i've switched to pullups and chinups and the effect it has on my lats are much better (I feel them more when I do the excercise). Anyways, opinions?

Btw, my friend is a complete o-lifting freak and preaches functional strength.

Well our opinions don't really matter if you do feel a big difference in the new exercises over the old ones. But to answer the question, there's nothing bullshit about lat pulldowns or wide grip pullups. They are just exercises designed to hit your muscles differently. Plenty of "experts" in the field recommend them in various workout plans. I've never read anything contrary to suggest they are bad/don't work in any way.

 

[paulxcook]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
Lat pulldowns are good if you cannot complete normal pull-ups. However, if you can, you should do pull-ups, preferably weighted pull-ups unless just your bodyweight is enough.

As for wide grip pullups... I wouldn't suggest them. Too much strain on your rotator cuff.

Agreed. I have to do lat pulldowns because I'm too fat to do more than maybe 1-2 pullups. So I'm doing pulldowns til that changes. I really look forward to being able to do weighted pullups and dips.

 

[KoolDrew]

Alternatively you could do some pull-ups with resistance bands.

 

[jiggahertz]

As your grip widens, your shoulders are going to come into the movement more. This could be why you're feeling your lats more in the narrow grip.

 

[saechaka]

I find the wide grip/slightly slanted pull ups esp. hard and can only do about 5 of those while I can do about 10 regular pull ups (arms a little more the shoulder width apart). By the way, does varying how close or far apart your grip is help improvements of lats?

 

[KoolDrew]

does varying how close or far apart your grip is help improvements of lats?

Yes. The wider, the less the lats are involved and the more shoulders are. I generally have my arms parallel.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
Lat pulldowns are good if you cannot complete normal pull-ups. However, if you can, you should do pull-ups, preferably weighted pull-ups unless just your bodyweight is enough.

As for wide grip pullups... I wouldn't suggest them. Too much strain on your rotator cuff.

And this is exactly what I was reading the thread (to see if this piece of info was said). Wide grip pullups or lat pulldowns are terible for your rotator cuff. They don't overload/engage your lats as much either, which is why most people do pullups. I have rotator cuff problems already and I did wipe grip once. Never again. It's a terrible idea.

Also, again as KoolDrew said (I feel like your henchman for Christ's sake ), do weighted pullups. It allows for a more functional, in-tune motion. Never will you have to sit down and pull 200 pound down in your life, but may however have to pull yourself up to get over something. Just do pullups. If you don't have a dip belt, just put a free weight between your feet.

 

[TecHNooB]

FYI Here's the link my friend sent me when I told him I was doing widegrip pullups haha..

http://www.dragondoor.com/articler/mode3/7/

 

[purbeast0]

one problem i have with pullups is i feel like I'm using my biceps way more than my back, and my biceps get tired before my back does. i need to work on form with them, i haven't really done them much.

 

[cdmccool]

I've never really thought of it, but I do widegrip pullups and have problems with my left shoulder. I'll bring my grip in a bit and see if it helps my shoulder.