wide grip or close grip for lat pull downs?

[sparkant]

In an article I read a while back, Dorian Yates claimed to have never done a wide grip anything for back in his entire career as an Olympia champion and he's considered to have one of the most impressive backs ever in BB history so take that bit of info for what it's worth. He said that the wider grip compromised the biceps and since the bicep was the weak link in the equation it would be better to put them in a possition where they can be stronger and therefore pull more weight.
If a stronger, bigger, and thicker back is what you are looking for, then heavy assed deadlifts and heavy assed bent over rows is the way to go. As soon as I decided to fully embrace those exercises and do the bent over rows like Dorian Yates says to do them (at a 70 degree angle, not fully bent over like the tradional movement is done), my back started to grow and with that my strength in all other lifts including bench and squats started growing stronger as well.

in my early days i trained at the temple in birmingham (dorians gym) and regularly watched him do cable rows with a wide grip and barbell rows with a wider than normal grip,he said this was responsible for the developement of his upper lats/rhomboids and lower traps, but i think your right about the close grip for mass in the general lats area and i too seen by best back developement when doing the "yates row" 70 degree barbell rows in combination with heavy deadlift and close grip chins.

 

[shibs]

wait.. the traditional bent over row (DB that is) is at a 90 degree bend isn't it? and so if you were to raise up a bit it'd be more like a 120 degree bend

 

[LeeJunFan]

i would think that 90 degrees would be you standing up right as that is a 90 degree angle with the floor, i think what they're saying is that most people bend to a 45 degree angle but dorian bends slightly less using a 70 degree angle. i may be wrong but that's how i understood what was said.

 

[InGreatShape]

i did some researching earlier and found the bent over row to be considered one of the best for the back, what is your number 1 lat exercise? any thoughts would be apprciated, thanks!

That is my best lat exercise.

 

[Common Sense]

Hey Guys! Great posts and I hope this helps:
Your Latissimus Dorsi (biggest back muscle) is located from C7-T12, Pelvis crest and 3-4 Ribs. It attaches onto your Humerous(arm bone) to produce movements like shoulder extension, adduction and internal rotation. This means that Palms in a supinated position will create a direct line of pull (making it the most powerful). If your palms are facing away (pronated) the length of the muscle will be stretched before you have even started the movement (weaker position). Though when you hang off the bar in a wide grip it looks like you have wings, this look is quickly diminished once you return to normal posture.
Happy Chinning Guys!!

"Common sense is not that common these days"

 

[joeblow12345]

For optimal development hit the back from every angle. Switch exercises frequently to prevent accomodation. And eat like a horse.

NTBM REP

 

[the_alcatraz]

Wide-as-fuck is the best way to go bro...you wanna get wide, go wide grip chins and pulldowns

 

[the_alcatraz]

In an article I read a while back, Dorian Yates claimed to have never done a wide grip anything for back in his entire career as an Olympia champion and he's considered to have one of the most impressive backs ever in BB history so take that bit of info for what it's worth. He said that the wider grip compromised the biceps and since the bicep was the weak link in the equation it would be better to put them in a possition where they can be stronger and therefore pull more weight.
If a stronger, bigger, and thicker back is what you are looking for, then heavy assed deadlifts and heavy assed bent over rows is the way to go. As soon as I decided to fully embrace those exercises and do the bent over rows like Dorian Yates says to do them (at a 70 degree angle, not fully bent over like the tradional movement is done), my back started to grow and with that my strength in all other lifts including bench and squats started growing stronger as well.

bullshit, ive seen his training videos for back. he does wide grip