Do you feel your lats work during pull-ups?

[Romanesque]

I don't. I'm thinking about abandoning them as my first exercise on back day and replacing them with dumbell rows where I'm certain I'm isolating lats. There's too much shoulder involvement in pull-ups in my experience.

 

[d3track]

i really only feel my lats in pull ups
i have moved them to the last movement though
really concentrate on using your back muscles for the movement, not just going up and down

 

[string_bean00]

I feel almost all lats when doing pull-ups.

 

[he-man]

i feel it - esp when ive got a really wide grip

 

[bigdho]

I don't. I'm thinking about abandoning them as my first exercise on back day and replacing them with dumbell rows where I'm certain I'm isolating lats. There's too much shoulder involvement in pull-ups in my experience.

IMO I would do a compound movement for my first exercise ie deadlifts. It will make the rest of your workout more intense.

 

[theoak01]

if I do the reps to fast no I dont feel it,maybe slowing it down will help

 

[BOOEY]

Your form is probably wrong. Squeeze your shoulder blades back when you're pulling yourself up to put the stress on the back/lats.

 

[LeeJunFan]

I find working lats takes a lot more concentration than say biceps or chest, you really have to try and find the best form, I was doing lat pulldowns (close grip) for about 3 months before I knew how to do them properly, when someone actually showed me how to do them properly I hit my lats decently for probably the first time, it's the same with the rowing motion exercises, it's not just as simple as grab the bar and pull, it's the same with pull ups!

 

[strongsmartsexy]

IMO I would do a compound movement for my first exercise ie deadlifts. It will make the rest of your workout more intense.

I do just that. I start with heavy deadlifts, then do pullups and then hit the single arm dumbbell rows. When doing pullups, people tend to release the shoulders at the bottom of the movement. If you can learn how to keep them latched in, wide grip pullups really work the lats well.

 

[Romanesque]

I just finished working my back about two hours ago. I kept some of your comments in mind, especially Mad S's. I had been doing 3 sets of 12, but I was doing them too quickly. Most guys that I've seen through the years blast through their pull-ups. I slowed it down. I only got about 8 reps a set, but doing them slow and steady made a big difference. Good stuff.

 

[casualbb]

You have to REALLY focus on contracting the lats. A pullup is one of those exercises when the mind-body link really plays a huge role in load distribution for the movement.

For me personally, it helps to pull explosively. Try to do the move while thinking of doing a pullover. It's hard to explain

 

[nsashbl01]

Years ago a my shoulder pt gave me a few tips on pullups / pulldowns. Make sure to roll your shoulder blades up / forward to get a full stretch when arms are at full extension. Then make your very first movement by pulling your shoulder blades down and flexing your lats hard. Follow with pulling down. I've even gotten a great pump from doing the first movement only, and never bending my elbows. One gym owner I know calls them 1/2 pull downs. Sometimes it takes getting used to to get a ggood range of motion in your shoulder blades.