Lat pulldowns vs bent over rows?

[strongshadow]

So I've read a couple of topics on this but they don't seem to answer my question.

What's better? Should I do both?

For example here's my current back and bicep workout routine:

1. Chinups 3 sets
2. Lat pulldowns 3 sets
3. Iso-lateral rows 3 sets
4. Bicep curls 3 sets

Should I just add bent over rows to my workout to make 15 sets? Or should I get rid of something and replace it with bent over rows?

[PatFel]

2 of my favourite exercises.
Do both.

[strongshadow]

Both hit different muscle groups. Personally i would get rid of Chinups and add either bent over rows or seated rows.

I thought chin ups are the most crucial exercise for building a huge back.

[matt3400]

chinups
deadlifts
bentover rows
seated rows

[PatFel]

Its a good exercise but you wont get a huge back from doing chinups.

Sure you can

[NZninja101]

Its a good exercise but you wont get a huge back from doing chinups.

Depends on your definition of huge... But if you were forced to do only one exercise for back then chin ups would be one of the best.


OP, you cannot substitute a vertical pull from below with a horizontal pulling movement. You should have BOTH.

Why do so many people favor chinups over pullups? Pullups are all back; the only advantage to chins would be to build your biceps, but it seems like almost everyone on here does direct bicep work anyway.

When I do chin ups I feel a stretch in my lats that I don't get with pull ups. I think it is probably a good thing.


Depending on the way you do chin ups they may not be significant bicep builders. I just use my arms as hooks as I would in pull ups. Chin ups feel better on my back. It ultimately makes little difference though.

[allrealNJ]

Why do so many people favor chinups over pullups? Pullups are all back; the only advantage to chins would be to build your biceps, but it seems like almost everyone on here does direct bicep work anyway.

[PatFel]

Why do so many people favor chinups over pullups? Pullups are all back; the only advantage to chins would be to build your biceps, but it seems like almost everyone on here does direct bicep work anyway.

By "chin ups" we mean "pull ups". i.e. Overhand wide grip.

Underhand grip is nowhere near as good

[strongshadow]

Depends on your definition of huge... But if you were forced to do only one exercise for back then chin ups would be one of the best.


OP, you cannot substitute a vertical pull from below with a horizontal pulling movement. You should have BOTH.

Should I just take out lat pulldowns since chinups seem to do the job?

Also iso-lateral rows are like bent over rows. They are both horizontal pulling movements. Which one should I do?

[Maniacs]

So I've read a couple of topics on this but they don't seem to answer my question.

What's better? Should I do both?

For example here's my current back and bicep workout routine:

1. Chinups 3 sets
2. Lat pulldowns 3 sets
3. Iso-lateral rows 3 sets
4. Bicep curls 3 sets

Should I just add bent over rows to my workout to make 15 sets? Or should I get rid of something and replace it with bent over rows?

I include both in my routine, why not?

[allrealNJ]

By "chin ups" we mean "pull ups"

Oh, of course. lol

[PatFel]

Should I just take out lat pulldowns since chinups seem to do the job?

Also iso-lateral rows are like bent over rows. They are both horizontal pulling movements. Which one should I do?

Rows are rows.

Do whichever you prefer and gets the best contraction.

Whichever you like least out of chin ups/lat pulldowns, get rid of.

[xSup3r]

Do both brah.

[NZninja101]

Rows are rows.

Do whichever you prefer and gets the best contraction.

Whichever you like least out of chin ups/lat pulldowns, get rid of.

Do this OP.


Also this isn't quite related to your question but I just wanted to say that wide grip pulldowns or pull ups do not necessarily make your lats wider. The lats are just a muscle that cannot be shaped. They can simply grow, or shrink. If they grow they get wider. Wide grip just takes ROM out of the movement and makes it a little harder. It also fcuks up my shoulders. You may be different. So unless you really want to do wide grip pull ups or pulldowns, just use a closer grip.

[S3RB0N]

Pull ups with wide grip
Deadlifts
Bent over rows

Nothing more will be needed for a huge back... with enough frequency of course.

[Huskarl]

Its a good exercise but you wont get a huge back from doing chinups.

Are you ****ing stupid?

[S3RB0N]

Are you ****ing stupid?

Chinups alone won't make your back huge.
I know people who do them their entire life, they can do over 25 pull ups, still their back looks like they never lifted a single weight.. which they didn't.

[strongshadow]

So iso-lateral rows or bent over rows? Which one is better? They are both horizontal pulling exercises.

[strongshadow]

Bump.

[musclehead09]

you already have chin ups in which are better than pulldowns if you keep adding weight to them imo. Do bent over rows. I hope your doing deadlifts whenever you hit legs then cuz they will build a massive back

[allrealNJ]

Chinups alone won't make your back huge.
I know people who do them their entire life, they can do over 25 pull ups, still their back looks like they never lifted a single weight.. which they didn't.

Once youre doing 25 pull-ups its obviously a resistance exercise and isnt going to build muscle. when youre over 10 reps every set youre supposed to add weight. you can build huge effing lats from pull ups alone. have you ever seen someone doing pull-ups with 80 lbs hanging off them that had an unimpressive back?

[itwasntme184]

lat pd is a vertical row, bent over is a horizontal

vertical rows work lats more, horizontal rows work rhomboids/upper back

[PatFel]

Also this isn't quite related to your question but I just wanted to say that wide grip pulldowns or pull ups do not necessarily make your lats wider. The lats are just a muscle that cannot be shaped. They can simply grow, or shrink. If they grow they get wider. Wide grip just takes ROM out of the movement and makes it a little harder. It also fcuks up my shoulders. You may be different. So unless you really want to do wide grip pull ups or pulldowns, just use a closer grip.

I always just did wide grip cause i assumed that is most effective for lats.

Meh, works for me

[strongshadow]

So should I replace iso-lateral rows with bent over rows?

[PatFel]

So should I replace iso-lateral rows with bent over rows?

Can't you think for yourself for one minute? lol

If I were you I'd do bent over rows

[strongshadow]

Can't you think for yourself for one minute? lol

If I were you I'd do bent over rows

What's the reasoning?

[S3RB0N]

Once youre doing 25 pull-ups its obviously a resistance exercise and isnt going to build muscle. when youre over 10 reps every set youre supposed to add weight. you can build huge effing lats from pull ups alone. have you ever seen someone doing pull-ups with 80 lbs hanging off them that had an unimpressive back?

I wasn't talking about weighted pull ups. They're something different. We're assuming here that you don't have any weights. Weighted pull ups are a great exercises mainly because you can achieve progressive overload.

[PureWheyBrah]

lat pd is a vertical row, bent over is a horizontal

vertical rows work lats more, horizontal rows work rhomboids/upper back

this, depending on how high up you bring the barbell towards your torso, the lower it is for bent over barbell row it will hit more lats/lower lats, the high upper lats area/upper back etc

[PatFel]

What's the reasoning?

I always prefer free weights for big exercises.

I usually do at least 3 rows in with back workouts anyway.

Bent Over BB rows are one of my favourites

[NZninja101]

I always just did wide grip cause i assumed that is most effective for lats.

Meh, works for me

Sure.

It really comes down to the 'E' word, that is, 'optimal', that you might have done better with a closer grip. But this is really just minor detail. Besides there are plenty of bbers who do them wide and have great back development. I just have the opinion that people should have a closer grip as a default grip. But they can do wide grip if they really want to.