Lat Pulldowns?

[Legion Kreinak]

I was wondering if this is a good exercise to use to work my traps/lats. I don't like shrugs or deadlifts (leave me alone) and figure this is a good compoud movement. I'm buying a new bench for $107 that has a lat-pulldown bar with it and figure it may be a good idea to work my lats. Also, will having more developed lats be noticable? I figure it would support the chest/abs look because it's just to the side of them and... yeah.

 

[bishonen]

I was wondering if this is a good exercise to use to work my traps/lats. I don't like shrugs or deadlifts (leave me alone)

Shrugs and deadlifts work the lats

Your lats pull your humerus towards your body - the opposite of the deltoids.

And yes, they make you look wider. Lat pulldowns seem to be a popular lift, though personally I prefer pullups.

 

[Bullit]

Also, will having more developed lats be noticable?

You serious? Have you never seen a back pic..a lat spread... the 'wings'??? It makes a very noticable difference!

Pull down will definitely help your lats, wont do a whole lot for traps tho.

 

[Bullit]

Re: Re: Lat Pulldowns?

Shrugs and deadlifts work the lats

Shit, I definetly feel my lats after deads.

Ya know what tho, I also feel my lats after dips.. whats with that?

 

[bishonen]

Re: Re: Re: Lat Pulldowns?

Shit, I definetly feel my lats after deads.

Ya know what tho, I also feel my lats after dips.. whats with that?

Depending on how deep your range of motion is, your lats definitely come into play doing dips.

I'm still lost on the deadlifts though.

 

[Bullit]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Lat Pulldowns?

I'm still lost on the deadlifts though.

Heheh.. I cant expalin it, all I know is I feel it!

 

[Thaibox]

deads do hit the lats bish. I know, its one of those things.

Legion, I know you asked to be left alone, but why the hell don't you want to do deads or shrugs. You're always asking everyone about good routines for fighting, yet you won't do one of best lifts, if not the best. Makes no sense.

 

[Legion Kreinak]

Half the time I feel like I'm doing it wrong, even though I follow exactly what everyone says, so I just said forget it. Heh, I'm okay with myself the way I am, deads won't make me change all that much anyways.

 

[Bullit]

deads won't make me change all that much anyways.

Now there's a good attitude!

 

[bigdelt69]

you must have somekind of fucked up awsome genetics if you think deads wont do that much for you.

 

[gettinlarger]

Half the time I feel like I'm doing it wrong, even though I follow exactly what everyone says, so I just said forget it. Heh, I'm okay with myself the way I am, deads won't make me change all that much anyways.

I'm sorry dude, but that is just ignorant.

And yes, they will. Get a bunch of people to deadlift. Wait one year. See how much shit they can lift up as compared to you. Deadlifts will transform you into a machine. They build your foundation man.

 

[erickthegreat11]

try behind the neck pull downs. I think you'll like which muscles they hit for traps. Wide chins are best for lats. Bent over dumbell rows are good for the anterior delts and lats as well as the back.

 

[lemur]

you will always be weak if you continue to disregard what everyone tells you.


deadlift, squat, eat, and fucking grow. deads have a different feeling to them, not so much a "burn" but more a complete exhaustion. i was 13 when i did my first deadlift and they didnt feel that great to me either, but they helped my wrestling tremendously and they helped my growth.

 

[PussyDr]

is it something with the tension of the bar ?

what I mean is I weigh 200 pounds and can do a few pull-ups, but I can only do a few reps of lat pulldowns with 100 pounds

 

[RusPA81]

I am much more of a fan of chin or pull ups as compared to pulldowns. I like pulldown more for a finishing more. Nothing compares to deadlifts thought. You should really think about adding them, you won't be disappointed.

 

[Thaibox]

Half the time I feel like I'm doing it wrong, even though I follow exactly what everyone says, so I just said forget it. Heh, I'm okay with myself the way I am, deads won't make me change all that much anyways.

People on this board are generally nice, so they're hesitant to give you a slap in the face when you need it, so......

Holy crap! This has to be the worst attitude I've heard since I tried to get my Mom to exercise more. Bro, seriously, how the hell do you expect to accel in lifting or fighting with this state of mind. You've chosen to dive into two of the most physically and spiritually demanding sports in the world, and you're taking a half-assed attitude about it. All the little twerps curling and benching the same weight everyday have this exact attitude. If you're going to think like this, quit the gym and use the money for a Playstation.

Your other option is to find someone that knows how to deadlift and ASK. Look on the powerlifting board and this board for pics and clips of deads being done. There's plenty of good bros here that will go out of their way to help you.

You've expressed a wholehearted interest in achieving something, yet you're not willing to do what it takes.

Don't be the guy that real lifters see as "one of the turds that take up the bench." Be a fellow lifter(and fighter).

 

[gettinlarger]

People on this board are generally nice, so they're hesitant to give you a slap in the face when you need it, so......

Holy crap! This has to be the worst attitude I've heard since I tried to get my Mom to exercise more. Bro, seriously, how the hell do you expect to accel in lifting or fighting with this state of mind. You've chosen to dive into two of the most physically and spiritually demanding sports in the world, and you're taking a half-assed attitude about it. All the little twerps curling and benching the same weight everyday have this exact attitude. If you're going to think like this, quit the gym and use the money for a Playstation.

Your other option is to find someone that knows how to deadlift and ASK. Look on the powerlifting board and this board for pics and clips of deads being done. There's plenty of good bros here that will go out of their way to help you.

You've expressed a wholehearted interest in achieving something, yet you're not willing to do what it takes.

Don't be the guy that real lifters see as "one of the turds that take up the bench." Be a fellow lifter(and fighter).

If this post doesn't motivate you Legion, or make you think, or have any positive effect on you ... I dunno man ...

 

[erickthegreat11]

Legion: I started lifting when I was 13. I only started getting stronger in about March '02. I'm 22 now. I started getting on line about a year or two ago. This web site is your best resource/mentor for weightlifting. Where else can you get so much advise? Your coach? Nope, just one person. Your gym? He He.... if you were to ask as many questions at a gym as you do here, you'd probably avoid it b/c people aren't tolerant forever. You're probably close to my age, I don't know. But, if I had this resource when I started lifting, well, it's sick to think how many years of lifting I wasted on bad advise derived from a handfull of bodybuilding books at the library.

 

[erickthegreat11]

PUSSYDR: We all start somewhere, just keep using that pull down weight you're using, you'll get there.

BISHONEN: Deads work the lats and bis b/c in keeping your form, tension builds up in these muscles when you pull it. Hard to explain, but when you bend over to pick up the bar, these muscles, awa the abs, tighten up to keep your back straight.

 

[Mjollnir]

try behind the neck pull downs. I think you'll like which muscles they hit for traps. Wide chins are best for lats. Bent over dumbell rows are good for the anterior delts and lats as well as the back.

Not to contradict you, but I would advise never trying behind-the-neck latpulls, only frontal pulls down to the chest.

There is simply far too much possibility of shoulder damage, and the range of motion is severely limited compared to the front.

 

[Drunken_Weasel]

Not to contradict you, but I would advise never trying behind-the-neck latpulls, only frontal pulls down to the chest.

There is simply far too much possibility of shoulder damage, and the range of motion is severely limited compared to the front.

whoa, thats a weird one, never heard that before.

Thomas

 

[louden_swain]

I was wondering if this is a good exercise to use to work my traps/lats. I don't like shrugs or deadlifts (leave me alone) and figure this is a good compoud movement.

What?? Are you kidding?? Yes, pull-downs are good for the lats and they only emphasize the traps to a very small degree. You are better off performing chins.

Leave you alone?? I thought you wanted help?. If you want a complete back it is essential for you to learn how to perform shrugs and deads. I bet you don't even perform rows.

You need to re-configure your entire routine and center it on basic compound movements. Stay away from the fluff. If you want a big and strong back hit these exercises:

Deads, Barbell Rows, Chins, and Shrugs

 

[Thaibox]

Re: Re: Lat Pulldowns?

Stay away from the fluff. If you want a big and strong back hit these exercises:

Deads, Barbell Rows, Chins, and Shrugs

That pretty much sums it up



fluff

 

[gettinlarger]

Agreed. Chins have been become a recent fave of mine, as my inability to deadlift continues to piss me off (injury ... but i'm getting slightly better day by day). Yesterday it was all I really did for my back. Today my lats are feelin it. Quality.

 

[louden_swain]

Agreed. Chins have been become a recent fave of mine, as my inability to deadlift continues to piss me off (injury ... but i'm getting slightly better day by day). Yesterday it was all I really did for my back. Today my lats are feelin it. Quality.

I am glad to hear you are getting better. Most likely you only suffered a severe strain. Good luck on recovery.

 

[gettinlarger]

I am glad to hear you are getting better. Most likely you only suffered a severe strain. Good luck on recovery.

Thanks dude. I forgot to mention that they weren't really the only thing I did. I just remembered I did some deads yesterday. lol, I'm an idiot. Did some really light sets. 4 sets of 5 with 135, and 1 set of 5 stiff legged, for the hell of it. I was basically taking it easy, seeing if my form was f'd up any. They seemed alright. Hams are sore today (god knows why ...). Maybe next week it'll be a little better.

 

[bishonen]

Did some really light sets. 4 sets of 5 with 135

That's not light!

 

[Tarheel]

Does anyone do lat pulldowns while standing/kneeling away from the machine with your arms straight? I've only done them twice so its too early to tell, but they do give me a different sort of pump as long as I dont bend my elbows and use my triceps.

 

[gettinlarger]

That's not light!

Heh.

 

[scruples]

That's not light!

it's all relative...