What is the Best Lat Building Exercise?

[curling]

I think it is the weighted wide grip palms out pullup. I can just feel my lats spreading out like wings. I know some people are going to say dead lifts but I don't really think they do that much for lat development. I mean even ole Arnie said the weighted pullup is the best back exercise. Probably bent over db rows are second.

What do ya'll think

 

[BodybuildingUniverse]

I think if I did ONE exercise for lats only I would do bent rows.

 

[curling]

I think if I did ONE exercise for lats only I would do bent rows.

Have you tried weighted pullups?

 

[BodybuildingUniverse]

chins have always bothered my shoulders and the heavier I get the less I do them.

 

[curling]

Oh ok. I understand pain sux. I have the same problem with barbell bench(don't do em at all)

 

[The Shadow]

Barbell rowes and partial deadlifts

 

[beastboy]

Oh ok. I understand pain sux. I have the same problem with barbell bench(don't do em at all)

I think I am going to have to quit those too. I am currently taking a week off becasue I hurt my left shoulder doing them. Now any pressing movements cause pain, so I figured I better let it heal completely before doing anymore damage.

 

[curling]

I think I am going to have to quit those too. I am currently taking a week off becasue I hurt my left shoulder doing them. Now any pressing movements cause pain, so I figured I better let it heal completely before doing anymore damage.

I have switched totally to db bench presses and have not had the pain at all. I do incline barbell which doesn't seem to hurt but the bench barbell hurts like a sob.

 

[latinus_spicticus]

Barbell rows with an overhand grip hit the mid-back and upper back complex much better than the lats. I feel them in my lats a little bit, but I only get sore in my mid/upper back from them. If I use an underhand grip and bring the bar to my belt line instead of mid-abs, I feel them more in my lats. But I prefer the overhand grip. I think palms facing chins are by far a better lat builder than any exercise. The main cause of pain from doing chins are 1) hyperextending the shoulder complex at the bottom of the movement, and 2) doing wide-grip palms facing away from you chins. In my opinion, wide-grip palms away chins are worthless. They do nothing that palms-facing medium grip chins can do EXCEPT for destroy your rotator cuff. Palms facing chins and BB rows with an overhand grip are my only two back exercises along with deadlifts. Rows for upper back, chins for lats, and deadlifts for total development.

 

[JOKER47]

I have switched totally to db bench presses and have not had the pain at all. I do incline barbell which doesn't seem to hurt but the bench barbell hurts like a sob.

Interesting. I am the complete opposite. Incline BB absolutely kills my shoulders. But I can do flat BB with no problem. I alternate flat BB and DB for a change every so often.


.02,
Joker

 

[Vortexx]

What about the T-bar ROW???

I feel it's a great lat builder, especially the lower lats, gives some stimulation mid backt too

<-- latspread

 

[CytoMel]

Bent over barbell rows are the best for lats you guys are right.

Pause the weight on the floor and reset your form between each rep.

Bring the bar to where you bench.

 

[curling]

Bent over barbell rows are the best for lats you guys are right.

Pause the weight on the floor and reset your form between each rep.

Bring the bar to where you bench.

Ok but doesn't that put undo strain on your lower back? Or can you lay on a incline bench and then do the row with the bar? I mean I go pretty heavy on back it seems like that would be a big strain on your lower back without some kind of support.

 

[curling]

In my opinion, wide-grip palms away chins are worthless. They do nothing that palms-facing medium grip chins can do EXCEPT for destroy your rotator cuff. [/B]

what if you lean you neck and back way back while you are doing the chin? Does that still hurt your rotator cup? I have never had pain doing them either way though. Are you sure about this?

 

[bignate73]

I mean I go pretty heavy on back it seems like that would be a big strain on your lower back without some kind of support.

you wont go as heavy. the shrugging movement will be taken out of it, and it will be closer to a row vs a shrug (how most people do them)

its humbling for some to do a bent over row, bent over. dorian popularized the 30 deg "bent over" row which people like to use to stroke their ego and use more weight. looks more like a partial deadlift held at the bottom with some shoulder retraction.

 

[latinus_spicticus]

Yes, I feel that wide-grip chins will aggravate the rotator-cuff moreso than any other back exercise. Especially if you let yourself go all the way down and "relax" your shoulders at the bottom of the movement. Some people can do them without injuring themselves, but I don't think they are worth doing over palms-facing pullups. IMHO, of course. If you like them--keep doing them.

Two, a bent-over row does not necessitate a 90 degree bend at the waist. That is just asking for a lower back injury #1, and number 2 -- you have next to no leverage in that position. 30-40 degrees is as far as you need to go for maximum upper back/lat involvement. Just my 2 cents.

 

[sysopt]

underhand bent over rows hit the traps and mid back better chins, but I feel like I get a better lat workout from chins...bottom line: do both for a sweet back...actually I forgot deads for erectors, then you're set

 

[rippedtrojan]

if i could only do one exercise for back, it would be weighted pullups.

 

[bignate73]

underhand bent over rows hit the traps and mid back better chins, but I feel like I get a better lat workout from chins...bottom line: do both for a sweet back...actually I forgot deads for erectors, then you're set

good call, simple and to the point. no need to over-cerebralize it.

a row, an overhead pulldown and some low back work and youre set.

 

[aurelius]

Can´t beat pull ups for lats. Both research and my experience tell me this. Also, wide grip is no good! No wonder some people´s shoulders bother them.