how many pull-ups - avg./typical U.S. // fit 50-yr-old man ??

[drkelly74]

I can do 20 if I cheat and do them like most guys but if I go all the way down I can only do 15.

I would wager that less than 2% of people in the gym do pull-ups properly by going all the way down. That is based on observations from my gym.

Pussy Pull-Up Pete for the win! LOL!

[hmmmm16417]

i agree w/ average 50 yr old doing zero

it all depends on several variables. if you want to just to quantity, just continue adding or going til failure. for push ups I used to start with ONE push up and add ONE every day. sounds dumb and who the hell would do just one or two push ups? ME because I know what's coming. Just added ONE every day and on day 100 Iit works because "it's just one more" mentality I could talk myself into and you're conditioning yourself.

I've often wondered if it would work the same with pull ups? why not? even if you can barely do ONE...... do one every day for a week. the next week do 2 every day, and so forth. in a year you should be able to do 52 (as long as you stick to it)

[SR800]

My wife did 5 for her 50th, I did 20 for my 54th. Full drop and stop.

[DirkLift]

I'm 47 and returned to gym 2 weeks ago after a 25 year break. Yesterday I decided I want to be able to do pullups, so started on this pullup assist machine. Well... I weigh 305lbs and had to set the "assist" to 175lbs to be able to do 6 reps ::doh

[pryme]

Pull ups are like the bench press in that people use all sorts of shortened range of motions to get to a certain number.

The only true range of motion is a full dead hang unlocked elbow. Then give us your numbers. I can get 15-16 of those currently but I'm not 50 so maybe it doesnt matter.

[weiss1967]

I did 20 couple years ago, it took me a few months to get there. It feels good to able to say “20” but really doesn’t mean anything, if someone can do “only” 10 it is good enough.