downward vs horozontal pulling for optimal back mass

[[CinnamonBuns]]

what is your preference
best case scenario - Chins vs Barbell Rows?
please include why:heart
which do you place more importance on

 

[SaiBoT]

My back was built on chins, deads and pull-overs mostly! Check my profile pic and you will know my answer!

 

[[CinnamonBuns]]

My back was built on chins, deads and pull-overs mostly! Check my profile pic and you will know my answer!

how often do you do horozontal pulling, compared to vertical?

just curious because you said 'mostly'

 

[SaiBoT]

Honestly I prefer using machines or some kind of chest support for rows and neutral grip, I really concentrate on pulling with the back muscle not with the arms and each time I do free weight rows I lose my focus on the back and start pulling with arms which really sucks for bodybuilding purposes.

One other particular thing about my lat training is that I superset chins with chest moves with a minute rest between sets.

Why do you start this thread, any reason in special?

 

[the_alcatraz]

you need to do both.

Chins and pullups / pulldons work the lats

Rows work the back.

You need both...you cannot do without one of them.

 

[ExtraMile]

If you check my profile, for my age my back is no not bad, its a bad picture but you can sort of see my traps in the middle of my back.. well you can in real life anyway, but I only do deadlifts and barbell rows, so I would say horizontal pulling. For BB Rows let your arms stretch forward and use a shoulder width grip, shrug your shoulders back at the beginning of the move and pull your shoulder blades together and tense your lats as you get closer to your middle abs, keep your elbows quite close to your body rather than square. Thats what works best for me.

 

[[CinnamonBuns]]

Why do you start this thread, any reason in special?

just because BB rows + deads have always been the staple of my back routine (as well as olympic lifting, when in season)

lately ive been doing alot more chins, and i just find them to be funner, and less dull.

when i was on madcows, i used to love squatting and benching, but when i got to rows i kind of wanted to get them done, but only because they work, not because i enjoy them.

 

[[CinnamonBuns]]

you need to do both.

Chins and pullups / pulldons work the lats

Rows work the back.

You need both...you cannot do without one of them.

i found that barbell rows left my rhomboids a little underdeveloped
i didnt know untill i had a physio screening for rugby
im not sure if thats technical issue or just the movement
but ive been trying to adress it with machine rows, close semi pronated grip, trying to focus on a strong contraction in my middle back

 

[Sub-Zero]

you need to do both.

Chins and pullups / pulldons work the lats

Rows work the back.

You need both...you cannot do without one of them.

i agree. im going to start a new routine soonwith two back days...

overhead pulling, for lats,

and elbows flared out, horizontal rows, for middle back/traps/rear delts

 

[SaiBoT]

just because BB rows + deads have always been the staple of my back routine (as well as olympic lifting, when in season)

lately ive been doing alot more chins, and i just find them to be funner, and less dull.

when i was on madcows, i used to love squatting and benching, but when i got to rows i kind of wanted to get them done, but only because they work, not because i enjoy them.

I see... after awhile some stuff starts to get even more boring than before, when I feel like that I mix it up, for the next three weeks I'm doing a triset with pullovers, chin ups and snatch grip deadlift 8 reps of each 3x for my lats really focusing on them. Sure most people think this stuff doesn't work, but fuck I like it and dullness also hinders progress!