Are chins really that nessesary? Chins Vs Rows?

[SSAlexSS]

Hello all!

Just out of curiosity, what is the point of doing chins?

Chins work lats, right?

Rows works lats, plus traps as well.

SO why do inferior move when you can do superior move... right?

I am confused!

any one know the real reason to do chins?

 

[gymtime]

Chins are a back excercise pretty much like any other. They are no more or less crucial than any other kind of row. Personally, I do them very rarely. I tend to stick with bar/cable/db rows.

What makes you think chins are inferior?

 

[Gullie]

They are two totally different movements. Think about it! Chins are great for width along with wide grip pulldowns. Rows are more of a thickness exercise.

 

[ballast]

I believe chins are an excellent movement for the lats, no more inferior or superior than rows or any other back exercise.Personally, full range weighted chins are one of the most productive exercises I have ever used.

 

[Belial]

Too many variables in each lift to say you should eliminate one or the other. For the lats, actually a chin that's done while leaning back slightly is the perfect angle of motion. But you're not JUST training your lats with these motions, you're training the rest of your back too. the OTHER muscles hit by these lifts vary.

And the point about one adding width and the other adding thickness is bullcrap.

 

[calvesodeath]

I tend to do both. I work back on the bis on the same day, back first then bis. I often finish the workout with chins as a great finisher for both of these body parts. My .02

 

[sysopt]

Do both, what's the big deal? I think rows work the middle of the back better than chins, for a thicker back, however I think chins work the lats better than rows, for a wider back. Who cares? Do Both!

 

[bignate73]

And the point about one adding width and the other adding thickness is bullcrap.

not particularly

rows and such tend to involve the middle traps, rhomboids etc moreso in this motion than in a lat pulldown. in a lat pulldown, these muscles stablilize but the main movers are the lats. hence the width/thickness statement.

 

[Belial]

Yes, if you're speaking about surrounding muscle groups getting worked, somebody else made the (valid) point that the rowing motions will involve more of muscles of the upper/inner region of the back, while chins are more exclusive to the lats (and teres major/minor), but there's still the bit I read every now and then about rows making your lats thicker, and chins making them wider.

THAT is what I was referring to.

 

[bonan]

i would stick with chins just for the functional strength benefits.

boxers do shitloads of chins and sport pretty impressive back development and can throw punches like a mofo.

just my 2 cents.