Types of chin/pull ups

[Lumberg]

What's up guys, I have just been enlightened about the fact that close-grip pull ups are better than wide-grip. And I've been dong wide ones exclusively for years....

So anyways at my gym they have like a square that comes out of the wall; So there's 4 ways you can do close-grip body raises: pull ups just with your hands close in the middle of the bar, chin ups the same way, pull ups on the corner of the square (hands at right angles right together) and chins the same way (tho that would be kind of awkward).

I think chin ups (which is what I call it when your palms are facing you) emphasize the biceps. I am more interested in my lats and upper back in general. Given this, which type of pull-up/chin up will emphasize the muscles in my back?

Thanks,

JC

 

[the People's Champ]

doing pullups or chin ups (palms facing you-I forget which one is which), with your arms perpendicular to the ground and and pull yourself so that the bar reaches your collarbone, this works more of the lat region. make sure your arms don't flare out to your sides or you will move the work to your biceps more, than your lats.

 

[the People's Champ]

wide grip chins kick much ass, especially when weight is added via weight belt and plate or db hanging by a chain.

 

[bignate73]

I think chin ups (which is what I call it when your palms are facing you) emphasize the biceps. I am more interested in my lats and upper back in general. Given this, which type of pull-up/chin up will emphasize the muscles in my back?

Thanks,

JC

both. but since they are movement specific exercises and not muscle specific, your form will dictate the degree of "back" involvement. chins have a tendency to get a more for the bicep reputation because people half ass them and just try to go from point A (the bottom) to point B(the top) without regards to whether or not they pull their shoulder back and lead with their chest through the motion. its all about form as to what gets more emphasis.