Do chinups hit your back as well as pullups...?

[Mike_Rojas]

My friend is a marine, and I believe they are tested with their palms facing out (makes more sense, if your'e climbing a wall or something)

The real difference is like a reverse curl vs. a regular curl. Palms facing you (supinated) works the biceps more, palms out (pronated) works the forearms more.

That's the reason you can generally do more weight with a supinated grip. How many of you can reverse curl more than you can curl?

When I was a marine we could do either grip... most everyone chose the supinated grip. We also were encouraged to use a lot of body swing to get more reps.. they called it "kipping". I think the "kipping" is now not allowed, but I don't know if the grip has changed. I got out in '91.

 

[Zander1983]

I use four variations:
1. Wide-grip pullup (pronated - palms facing away)
2. Medium width grip pullup (pronated)
3. Medium width grip chinup (supinated - hands together)
4. Close-grip chinup (supinated)

Here's a brutal pullup routine that I like:
http://t-mag.com/html/body_144short.html

 

[coolcolj]

I only do chins and rows - my back is is getting bigger for what its worth

chins prevent internal rotation - which makes it much easier on the shoulders

you biceps are in a stronger position so you can lift more weight and they can keep up with your back.

 

[kingc_79]

When I was a marine we could do either grip... most everyone chose the supinated grip. We also were encouraged to use a lot of body swing to get more reps.. they called it "kipping". I think the "kipping" is now not allowed, but I don't know if the grip has changed. I got out in '91.

yes you can use either grip, i always used palms out and no you cannot kip. they have a guy stand in front of you with arm straight out (not a comfy feeling in those thin ass pt shorts.ugghh) to keep you from swinging and you had to go to full arm extension and chin over the bar. how it should be.

 

[Mike_Rojas]

ooh rah

 

[molnii]

defenetly pull ups!!

 

[Thaibox]

Do you guys find that chins (palm facing you) or a lot easier than pullups? I sure do, in fact it feels like it's mostly bicep flexion to me.

I believe Arnold said that palms in pullups/chins was his favorite bicep builder.

 

[Zander1983]

A supinated grip is fabulous for the bi's. I NEVER do any direct bicep work and they're fairly proportional to the rest of my body due to chins.

 

[CobraUTAH]

My vote is chin's are palms out, and pull ups are palm in. Also I see chin's being done with the widest grip possible and pullups much closer like shoulder width apart grip.

 

[The Red Dragon]

I feel like my abs are going to burst doing pullups, esp the top 2. I get sore upper abs after a workout involving bicep curls. I can't avoid contracting the abs though...any explanation for this? Do you guys find pullups/chinups awkward for your shoulder, the internal rotation seems quite unsettling.