Having trouble with pull ups..

[Joe513]

So i've been doing them for a year. The most i ever did was 6.. I normally can do 2-4. Chins, i can do 5 or 6. The numbers have been lower this week because i couldnt do them for 3 weeks while i was away. I think i haven't been getting better at them for a few reasons.
1. I kinda just was doing them to get them over with.
2. Doing them 3 times a week... Monday Wens day and Friday, followed by heavy bag on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.. I don't think i was giving my shoulders enough recover time. Plus other muscle groups.
3. I was doing HIIT 3 or 4 times a week, instead of one or 2. Plus the heavy bag training. I also am eating on a cut to loose some weight.

Now i'm doing more pullups, using mind muscle control or whatever it is, and i'm only doing the heavy bag once or twice a week, and i'm upping my protein intake.. I find that if i'm really warmed up pull ups are way easier, so i think, my shoulder muscles are really tight, maybe stretching better would be a good idea as well. Does anyone else have any other comments that could be of help to me..

[LostLlama]

Try doing weighted pullups instead of normal ones for a few weeks. You will not be able to get as many reps in as you would without weight, of course, but you should notice your body weight pullups getting much easier. Also, volume training helped me break through a plateau with pullups. Meaning, I do not do them to failure every set but I do a LOT more sets through out the day (I have a pullup bar that rests in a door frame).
Hope this helps.

[Tewsey]

The pull up is the hardest exercise for me so far. But I've been doing them on a smith machine that lets me do them with weights assisting me, so I can make my way up to 0 and be able to do more.

[LostLlama]

The pull up is the hardest exercise for me so far. But I've been doing them on a smith machine that lets me do them with weights assisting me, so I can make my way up to 0 and be able to do more.

You mean an assisted pullup machine - not a smith machine.

[RedSunRising]

Well with enough weight on it you could also do pull-ups on a smith machine ^^ But not the best way i guess...

As the others say, an assisted pull-up machine is really the most easy way to "learn" how to pull your body up and to figure out the best technique.

[Joe513]

Thanks for the replies. I think i'm going to focus more on chin ups for the time being, maybe throw in some weighted ones, i just bought a weight vest.. But I'll still do pull ups too. Its really frustrating.

[jmccauley1229]

Try doing weighted pullups

No. Most reps ever completed with bodyweight=6. So you want him to do 1 (good) rep with weight? That is idiotic.

Do negatives OP. And some pulldowns, both to the front and behind the neck.

[LostLlama]

No. Most reps ever completed with bodyweight=6. So you want him to do 1 (good) rep with weight? That is idiotic.

Do negatives OP. And some pulldowns, both to the front and behind the neck.

Weighted pullups can mean something like putting a 5lb db between your legs. It will help. Stop being so aggressive.
Weighted pullups some days and increasing volume with body weight pullups on other days has helped me. I've gone from his boat to easily banging out 20 deadhang pullups, not chinups. It is my advice and my back is easily my most defined muscle group. Take it or leave it.