Putting this "best back of all time" question to rest

[sgtrobo]

So let's put an end to this, once and for all, shall we?

Attached to this and the next are comparisons. The pics are the best example I have of each individual, contest day or otherwise. I included those who have "stood the test of time". Joel Stubbs may very well find his way onto this type of thing in a few years, as may JOJ.

Please see attached pics.

The Back Double Biceps comparison has Ronnie with the best BDB of all time, IMHO. Flex, Samir, Arnie, Aaron Baker (very underrated) and Dorian (not quite a BDB, but close enough) Especially impressive are the thickness and density that Samir, Ronnie and Dorian possess. Arnie doesn't have anywhere near the thickness that the others do either. Flex, some seem to think, has the best BDB of all time. I think these pics prove differently, although Flex certainly was impressive.

Next up are some front lat spreads. Orville Burke (thoroughly freaky with overly developed, somewhat high lats), Ronnie, Dorian, and Lee Haney are here. I included an older pic of Ronnie's FLS, because, to be honest, I think it is his best. Tough to call, but Dorian might have Ronnie by a hair on this one.

The posterior chain comparison includes Christmas trees, from left to right, upper row and bottom:
Dex, Dorian, Samir, Shawn Ray, Ronnie, and Flex. This is Ronnie from 2005 O. Definitely not his best, but I had some problems finding a good posterior chain pic of his. Tough call overall, but Shawn Ray really shines in this pose. Great symmetry, thickness and definition. If Shawn Ray's body was stuck, proportionately, onto a 5'10 frame, he would've had more Olympia's than Haney and Ronnie.

The rear lat spreads show Franco, Dorian, Ronnie, Mike Francois, Jay, and Dennis James. Before anyone asks, the Dorian pic is NOT the photoshopped one, it is the non-shopped pic. This one is a whitewash, some great spreads. I think that Franco's rear lat spread is probably the best, but that is because his lats attached to the back of his kneecaps, I think. I think Dorian has Ronnie beat in this one. Jay looks nice and wide, but his lack of lower trap and lower lat thickness hurt him overall.

The twisting 3/4 has Dorian, Ronnie, Levrone and Flex. I think this one is obviously Flex's, but it is interesting to note just how insanely thick and dense Dorian's back is. Again, I couldn't find a pic that does big Ron justice.

I also included some random "holy ****" style "relaxed" lat type stuff of Flex and Dennis James, as well as 2 each from Dorian and Ronnie. No real winner here, per se, as they aren't flexed poses, but it is just interesting to note how insanely huge and thick both Ronnie and Dorian are, as well as how dense DJ and Flex are/were. You can see in almost every pose, the benefits of heavy deadlifting on Ronnie's upper traps. You can also see the benefits of the Yates rows on Dorian's lower traps. Inhumanly massive.

So yeah. Hope you enjoyed the pictoral comparison. Let the arguments begin!

[sgtrobo]

a few more pictoral comparisons

[sgtrobo]

and before anyone cries "photoshop" on the dorian rear lat spread...

[pinchharmonic]

i say dorian all the way.

lowest lat insertions
no one's back looks like dorians, because his is trained to freak status. ronnie's looks like a big ass flex, jay's looks like a thicker maybe franco or osmething with less detail. point being, dorian's back is so unique looking because he jes worked so friggin hard for it.

[ziggyandthemonk]

Even though i voted for dorian im suprised he has all the votes at this point, figured thered be more variation. But you cant beat his freaky thickness AND width.

[spirit3530]

I like a lot of the pics but Dorian has this beat easily IMO

close second tie Haney and Coleman


Dorians back is just brutal. He is FAR ahead of everyone here. He looks like he has a boulder on his back with jagged edges nooks and cranies. Ron has a big back but it doesn't have the grainy look.

[LL SquatButt J]

um don't u think ur forgetting someone...........?

here's a hint...J...o....J

edit: ohh and also joel stubz i guess..... but even him has nothing on that man above

[NeoSeminole]

Ronnie > all

Many people don't realize just how massive and shredded Ronnie at the 03 Mr. Olympia was. To put things into perspective, I included a pic of Dorian at a heavier weight.

[LL SquatButt J]

so u really think ronnie has something on Johnnies traps and thickness......sigh

be serious guys come on, come oooooooooooooon.

Who wants to play a game called, "Lets get real"?

But in all seriousness though, i think joj should be up there wit em.....but really though, who's traps can top his?

[NeoSeminole]

you have got to be ****ting me? JJ has a great back no doubt, but there is more to having the "best back of all time" than just bigger traps. Ronnie at the 03 Mr. Olympia outweighs JJ by over 40 lbs of muscle. Size has to account for something. In my opinion, Dave Henry's back looks better than JJ's but I will say JJ beats him on back b/c of his superior muscularity. Ronnie's back was not only huge, but it was defined and separated.

[Colemans#1]

thought i would put some of my good back shots and a few lat spreads on to maybe sway the vote ive got some flex and orville on this one

[Colemans#1]

and some more ronnie and a freaky one of victor. also just to add arron baker was very underated. and ronnie and dorian are both gods

[Npeart]

Ronnie is the closest to Dorian I've ever seen, but Dorian's back is the best of all time. He doesn't smoke Ronnie in the back department and Dorian readily admits he could not beat Ronnie on an Olympia stage (see Bob and Dan's interview on bb radio,) but that is the widest and thickest back I've ever seen.

[LL SquatButt J]

dave henry has nothin on johnnies back period..... yeah i suppose ronnie out weights him , but dave henry....now thats goin too far give me a dave henry shot and i'll top it with a johnnie shot any day.

[absboy]

u are all wrong man flex wheeler had those most best and most ripped back i have ever seen in my life, his a freaking monster.

[SUPER COSMOS]

jhonnie jackson have good details

[wide lats]

Why havent i been mentioned on the poll...

i think dorian yates has the best back.

[gustavo]

big ron ownz!

[gustavo]

more ronnie pics

[The_One77]

Coleman had a wider back than Dorian.....but im guessing Dorian had the better BDB

[massssive]

I think at their bests, Ronnie will beat everyone...
Dorian and Franco will be real close but at the end, I reckon, Ronnie has the best overall back.

[SemiShred]

Dorian. No questions asked.

[mark2288]

I gotta admit back in the day Dorian was my boy. His back was AWESOME. But as time went by Ronnie has built his olympia victor status on one thing, his back. Ronnie has the best back of all-time. Dorian was huge, no question about that, but Ronnie takes the title by possibly just an inch more of mass and definition.

[John Prophet]

for pure detail, Albert Beckles had a crazy back (when he hit his peak right)

[JuicyCop2]

Reps to the thread starter... As for best back im going to have to go with coleman... all though I do like the backs of people like Arnold and Pavol Jabloniczky because they are striated and insanely detailed.

[Zane >>>> God]

Ronnie. Point simple. Point blank.

[Juggernaut33]

Another vote for Dorian. Here's another pic showin the sheer size of his back. I'm also a fan of Dennis James because of his mass and width.

[SpeedUp2]

I really like the picture comparison.

I voted for Ron, as he may not be the best in each of the categories that determine the best back, but overall he is no doubt in top 3 of each (overall mass, traps, back width, back thickness, details, christmas tree and so on) and can stand in any category against anyone.

[TJ_Strong]

Flex, may not be the biggest but damn sure cut to hell and back

This picture is pure perfection

[Hardcore Natural]

The only place where Dorian beats Ronnie is the calves...other than that Ronnie wins in back and every other aspect...although Dorian's conditioning beats out Ronnie's any day.

Just look at the pics though, Ronnie makes Dorian look ...well, smaller...compared to Ronnie.