Barbell Bent-over Row vs. Single-arm Dumbell Row on a Bench

[NewBeginning86]

Barbell Bent-over Row vs. Single-arm Dumbell Row on a Bench


Is there a difference between the two in muscle development?


Second, I noticed two differences when people perform bent over row exercises. Some do rows in a more upright position (about 45 degrees) and others do it so they are slightly above paralel to the floor (just enough to to maintain a back arch). What is the difference between these two positions?

[Boridi]

parallel to floor = emphasis on lats
45 degrees = rear delts, traps, etc.

[Dominik]

Barbell Bent-over Row vs. Single-arm Dumbell Row on a Bench


Is there a difference between the two in muscle development?


Second, I noticed two differences when people perform bent over row exercises. Some do rows in a more upright position (about 45 degrees) and others do it so they are slightly above paralel to the floor (just enough to to maintain a back arch). What is the difference between these two positions?

The main difference is one-arm DB rows will work each side in isolation which is really beneficial if one side is slightly bigger than the other. The only downside is they take twice as long to do unless you do them with two dumbbells without a bench for support.

I've been doing "incline dumbbell rows" lately and they're a mix of the two. You lean on an incline bench set around 30-45 deg. and row with the dumbbells however you like, palms up, palms down, or hammer position. Not a bad exercise for something different or if you're running short on time and still want to isolate each side.

[NewBeginning86]

I've been doing "incline dumbbell rows" lately and they're a mix of the two. You lean on an incline bench set around 30-45 deg. and row with the dumbbells however you like, palms up, palms down, or hammer position. Not a bad exercise for something different or if you're running short on time and still want to isolate each side.

I'll give those a try.

[the_grudgeflood]

the one-arm row you have to use alot of energy to train both sides of the body

barbell row is better in my opinion,
you can use more weight as well

[bigfurnka]

what i like to do is 2 arm dumbell rows.

[$AJ]

problem with 1-arm db is that as you get heavier and heavier you cheat more and more (twisting) w/o even realizing it. bb , or 2arm db, is better.

[Nibblesworth]

Don't bent over rows also strenghthen low-back muscles? With one handed rows, you are supporting your self with your free hand on a bench, whereas with bent-over rows only your low back is supporting yourself.

From what I know, bent-over rows help with core strenght, whereas one-handed simply isolates lats.

Am I right, or am I completely off base here?

[failuretogain]

Don't bent over rows also strenghthen low-back muscles? With one handed rows, you are supporting your self with your free hand on a bench, whereas with bent-over rows only your low back is supporting yourself.

From what I know, bent-over rows help with core strenght, whereas one-handed simply isolates lats.

Am I right, or am I completely off base here?

You are absolutly right i always get a nice burn in my lower aswell as in the upper after barbell rows so thats proof for me

[Dominik]

Don't bent over rows also strenghthen low-back muscles? With one handed rows, you are supporting your self with your free hand on a bench, whereas with bent-over rows only your low back is supporting yourself.

From what I know, bent-over rows help with core strenght, whereas one-handed simply isolates lats.

Am I right, or am I completely off base here?

You're right, that's why bent-over rows are the king of row exercises in my opinion, but there are advantages to isolating one side at a time with one-arm dumbbell rows, whether you use a bench for support or not, like to balance out asymmetry in the lats.

And some people with lower back problems who are mainly interested in working their upper back would be better off doing them with some kind of support (seated rows, T-bar machine, etc.)

But assuming everything is fine, there's no question it should be one of the main back exercises in a routine. It's my favorite back exercise along with close-grip chins.

[John Fenwick]

Barbells everytime, to use that amount of energy one one arm rows is not worth it IMO and as somebody has stated the heavier the weights get you tend to cheat on the form.

[MrSinister]

i find dumbell rows seemed to have made my lats come alive, when barbells rows didnt...