Are chins really that nessesary? Chins Vs Rows?

[Liberator]

wide grip pullups have added loads of width to my back

i think they are awesome, a real test of strength

i cannot imagine my back workout without them

 

[SSAlexSS]

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.

Rows are great thickness exercise partly due to involvement of traps (and other upper middle back muscles) in addition to alts being worked.

While chins only work lats which add width.

 

[bignate73]

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.

i hear ya.

the back as a whole sometimes seemed to be lumped into "lats". so i see whatchyooo sayin.

 

[PopiChulo]

YEAH YOU SURE ARE CONFUSED SSALEX IF YOU THINK ROWS ARE SUPERIOR TO PULL-UPS. PULL UPS SHOULD BE YOUR CORE LIFT FOR BACK THEN BUILD ON THAT

 

[mekannik]

Bump for Bonan.

Chins are a great functional strength lift (lats, bi's, grip). Rows are more fun - can easily use more than your body wieght - but chins (even with a dip belt) will humble almost anyone.

 

[GenetiKing]

I would never go through a back workout without doing chins. No way.

Chins have done for my back development than any other exercise I've incorporated into my routine. Most people absolutely butcher the form of this exercise and don't get a good lat pump from it so they discard it altogether.

Always do chins! Keep your elbows back (when doing pronated, wide grip chins) and imagine you are pushing your elbows down rather than pulling yourself up. Keep the tension in your lats, not your biceps and forearms, lean back slightly, pull into your upper chest. Imagine your hand as hooks, use straps, whatever, just do them...they are as vital to your back as squats are to legs.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Chins and dips are the MOST UNDERRATED exercises in the gym.

 

[liftah]

Why make a choice when you can do both.