bent over rows

[barefoot genius]

i'm fairly new to weight training and have a question regarding the form for bent over rows. i've seen rows described doing one arm/one back muscle (?) at a time. (like this: http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/BackGeneral/DBBentOverRow.html), or both arms/entire back at the same time (like this: http://www.muscleandfitnesshers.com/hers/images/strength_back_bent over row_2.jpg)

which is the most effective? does it matter?

thanks guys !

 

[athlete0185]

well the first one is dumbell rows, and the second is bent over barbell rows. i personally like bent over barbell rows the best, but that illustration with that bitch lifting 2 pounds isnt very good form. ill leave it to someone here to describe form better.

 

[IronandGravity]

Her form isn't bad. Her back position is good. I don't bend over that much. I try to keep it around 45 degrees.

I prefer barbell rows myself. Try to hold your body in one position and focus on making the back do all the work. Pull it up into your gut.

The most effective I've found though is the t-bar row. Those and barbell rows hit the lats nicely.

 

[Scotsman]

Actually her form is pretty good. I prefer to row more to my chent than stomach though. One arm rows are good for developing independant strength while bent over rows are a great overall back workout. You have to use your traps, lats, bis, and rhombs to pull while stabilizing with your lower back and hammys. Especially when you increase to heavy weight these will help with overall back mass.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[barefoot genius]

would you suggest one over the other for a beginner? or both perhaps?

 

[MsBeverlyHills]

BB bentover rows-

http://members.shaw.ca/bodybuilding/Exercises/exercisepics/bentrow.gif

the BEST back exercise for putting on size-- esp for beginners. DB rows, since their a unilateral exericse can help compensate for a strength imbalance & are good if you have lower back problems.

 

[forty-six & 2]

anyone ever try bent rows, but with db? i tried them a few months ago, and have fallen in love. you can't go quite as heavy but the range of motion is intense, you can really feel the lats stretch and contract. if you haven't, give them a shot.

 

[Scotsman]

BG- I would try both and see which you like best and focus on that to start. Then start adding the other in. Probably bent rows will be easiest to start as there is less isolation.

forty- Yes I like doing bent rows with two dumbells give a little different squeeze to it.

CHeers,
Scotsman

 

[GoldenDelicious]

both are good, and have costs/benefits

barbell rows are harder on the lower back

dumbbell rows tend to get people cheating/twisting their torso to get the weight up

personally go for the barbell initially, its easier to master the form and get good gains

 

[Singleton]

Actually her form is pretty good.

'specially when she's bent over

 

[Dave949]

anyone ever try bent rows, but with db? i tried them a few months ago, and have fallen in love. you can't go quite as heavy but the range of motion is intense, you can really feel the lats stretch and contract. if you haven't, give them a shot.

I also started to incorporate them into my back routine a few months back. They took a few workouts to get the hang / feel of them but once I got used to them I can say I really like them.
I get an excellent squeeze/contraction at the top of the movement. I have been using them as a finishing off move after I do my barbell rows. I start the movement with my palms facing my shins (just as if using a bar) and as I pull the DB`s up I slowly rotate them so they are palms facing each other at the top of the movement.

 

[barefoot genius]

i'm still trying to perfect my form and bc goldendelicious mentioned that barbell rows are harder on the lower back, i want to make sure i have the correct form down before i add weights.

so is my form correct? (i don't know know how to post pictures, so i've posted the link instead) --> http://images.ofoto.com/photos503/8/73/74/27/81/0/81277473805_0_ALB.jpg

thanks so much

 

[barefoot genius]

dammit, the link was working a second ago!

anyone know how to get it to work?

(copying and pasting the link seems to work..well once you click "quote" to see the full link. i hate computers )

 

[IronandGravity]

I got it to work by 'save target as'. Form looks good. Do one or two warmups before hitting the heavier stuff to get your form down and get blood flowing to the target muscles. Watch Ronnie Coleman's movie. He does them with about 450 pounds for his last set but his form is pretty good, despite lower back cheating.

Along with deadlifts and pull-ups/pull-downs, rows are one of the great back compound movements.

 

[super_rice]

db barbell rows with over/under grip has worked well for my lats, but they didn't really start developing until i began to do chinups.

so DO CHINUPS. they suck ass, but keep at it!

also, as soon as you can, do weighted chins, keep it around 6-8 reps and keep adding weight like this. i don't know how you'll respond to it, but like i said, it's worked well for me, and much faster/better results than the db rows.

 

[coolcolj]

this is me a long time ago doing these 45 degree rows

right click and save
http://www.members.optushome.com.au/coolcolj2/Movies/CCJ_BentOverRow_225PR_2.mpg

 

[super_rice]

awesome movie man.

will be giving those a try for sure.