Close grip/Underhand lat pulldowns help build lower pecs?

[Clubber Lang]

According to this website close grip and underhand lat pulldowns help build your lower pecs. Is this true? Has anyone ever felt it in their lower pecs by doing either of these two exercises? Has anyones lower pecs developed better since adding these to their routine?

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/LatissimusDorsi/CBCloseGripPulldown.html

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/LatissimusDorsi/CBUnderhandPulldown.html

 

[WalkingBeast]

Welcome to the boards brother!! I wouldnt add those into your chest day! Back and biceps are the main movers on that exercise. For lower chest, declines are supposed to build that area best, but personally I only hit inclines and flat benches. If anything go with declines to hit that area.

 

[bignate73]

it doesnt say anything about that. it states they are synergists, which means they contribute to the movement. also, it doesnt say anything about "lower pecs".

 

[Clubber Lang]

I know this wouldn't be your main exercise for lower pecs but it would probably help them.

And yes it does say lower pecs. Click on where it says "Pectoralis Major, Sternal "

 

[gjohnson5]

Welcome to the boards brother!! I wouldnt add those into your chest day! Back and biceps are the main movers on that exercise. For lower chest, declines are supposed to build that area best, but personally I only hit inclines and flat benches. If anything go with declines to hit that area.

I'm with Walking Beast on this one.
I do declines but I've found that most people do them in the manner of heavier weight. If declines are done with lower weight and you drop the bar dangerously low to the middle of the chest or upper chest and do it with a wide grip , you can stretch the hell out of lower chest on each rep. Put 135 on the bar and try this to see if it works for ya. Basically, If you drop the bar to the lower chest with a narrow grip you not going to work lower chest at all.

Dips work for people who don't have shoulder troubles.

I would say dumbell and cable work wil on a decline bench is the best bet since the technique with barbell is kinda dangerous.

 

[gregory]

Well it's interesting that you made this post Because on monda was my chest day and i did the same routine i always do, but on tuesday i did back and did cloe grip pull ups, no easy feat for a 6'3 dude. Anyway, today i noticed my lower pecs are so friggin sore it's unbelievable. Now i think i know why. When i raise my hands overhead i feel the attachment points in the lower pecs hurt. Technically speaking this pull up movement is very similar to the pull over, which hits lats for most but for me it hit the chest more then the lats, genetics i suppose.

 

[gjohnson5]

Well it's interesting that you made this post Because on monda was my chest day and i did the same routine i always do, but on tuesday i did back and did cloe grip pull ups, no easy feat for a 6'3 dude. Anyway, today i noticed my lower pecs are so friggin sore it's unbelievable. Now i think i know why. When i raise my hands overhead i feel the attachment points in the lower pecs hurt. Technically speaking this pull up movement is very similar to the pull over, which hits lats for most but for me it hit the chest more then the lats, genetics i suppose.

I bet it's technique. When I do these or pretty much any back exercise on machine , I think "pull the elbows back" So I use my back as a means of "ceating" to pull the elbows back. The arms are doing very little work , the back is doing it all and that should isolate must all back muscles. Pulldows shouldn't cause chest to get sore

 

[JohnRobHolmes]

it is definatly technique. i can get a killer workout in my pecs from close grip pullups. keep the elbows in and dont lean back. drive the elbows to the stomach.

 

[Illuminati]

According to this website close grip and underhand lat pulldowns help build your lower pecs. Is this true? Has anyone ever felt it in their lower pecs by doing either of these two exercises? Has anyones lower pecs developed better since adding these to their routine?

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/LatissimusDorsi/CBCloseGripPulldown.html

http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/LatissimusDorsi/CBUnderhandPulldown.html

the question i have is "do you think it is necessary to try and isolate the lower pec region?" my answer would be no. why do i say no, you ask... based on my past training, and looking at others, almost everybody that has put some time into their training has some sort of lower pec development, i have only seen on person who didn't. but he must have had some sort of muscular deformity, because as the chest got down to the nipple, the muscle was non existant. but anyways, if there is anything that is lagging in the chest development is the upper chest. most people have that lower lip that allows the chest to stick out, but then the upper part just sinks in. IMO it is the upper chest that makes the chest stand out, and gives it a more fuller appearance. anyway, im just ramblin...
i've never done a close grip pull down with the intention of working the lower pecs. i might done them maybe once or twice in a year just to do something different. and i do not do decline bench. i stick with flat and incline, and do llots of flies. that is about it, and i have a good build to my chest.

 

[gjohnson5]

the question i have is "do you think it is necessary to try and isolate the lower pec region?" my answer would be no. why do i say no, you ask... based on my past training, and looking at others, almost everybody that has put some time into their training has some sort of lower pec development, i have only seen on person who didn't. but he must have had some sort of muscular deformity, because as the chest got down to the nipple, the muscle was non existant. but anyways, if there is anything that is lagging in the chest development is the upper chest. most people have that lower lip that allows the chest to stick out, but then the upper part just sinks in. IMO it is the upper chest that makes the chest stand out, and gives it a more fuller appearance. anyway, im just ramblin...
i've never done a close grip pull down with the intention of working the lower pecs. i might done them maybe once or twice in a year just to do something different. and i do not do decline bench. i stick with flat and incline, and do llots of flies. that is about it, and i have a good build to my chest.

Snap a pic , dude

 

[wnt2bBeast]

the question i have is "do you think it is necessary to try and isolate the lower pec region?" my answer would be no. why do i say no, you ask... based on my past training, and looking at others, almost everybody that has put some time into their training has some sort of lower pec development, i have only seen on person who didn't. but he must have had some sort of muscular deformity, because as the chest got down to the nipple, the muscle was non existant. but anyways, if there is anything that is lagging in the chest development is the upper chest. most people have that lower lip that allows the chest to stick out, but then the upper part just sinks in. IMO it is the upper chest that makes the chest stand out, and gives it a more fuller appearance. anyway, im just ramblin...
i've never done a close grip pull down with the intention of working the lower pecs. i might done them maybe once or twice in a year just to do something different. and i do not do decline bench. i stick with flat and incline, and do llots of flies. that is about it, and i have a good build to my chest.

I agree with illum..the best chest in bb'ing prolly ruhl its thick from top to bottom..what his routine based on ? inclines... i do decline presses so im not going to say theyre useless..but i certainly wouldnt want my lower pecs bigger than my upper pecs..

Johnson is right too..declines with a close grip really stress mostly tri's and delts..stick with a medium to wider grip

 

[gregory]

I bet it's technique. When I do these or pretty much any back exercise on machine , I think "pull the elbows back" So I use my back as a means of "ceating" to pull the elbows back. The arms are doing very little work , the back is doing it all and that should isolate must all back muscles. Pulldows shouldn't cause chest to get sore

Yes yes but i don't do pulldowns. Pulldowns Are a good way to control the form. I do pullups, with those you work with the natural groove your body takes to as you pull yourself up. On previous accasions i noticed that when i come to a dead hand gefore a pull up i feel my chest muscles stretching quite strongly. Personally i am convinced that pull ups hit the chest muscles on a "portion" of the movement. They key i feel is pull ups not pull downs.