As you may have guessed, the underhand lat pulldown primarily works your lats. Originating in the lower-mid back, the latissimus dorsi holds the title for the broadest muscle of the back. Your lats play a significant role in most “pulling” exercises such as the lat pulldown, pull ups, and other rowing exercises.
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Are underhand lat pull downs good?
Although the straight-arm pulldown primarily activates the latissimus dorsi muscles on the sides of your back, it also works the posterior deltoids, triceps, rhomboids, and teres major muscles in your upper arms.
Is underhand grip better for lat pulldown?
The underhand-grip does have its benefits as well. First and foremost it will activate more of the lower lats, and while the overhand-grip provides a better stretch, the underhand-grip provides a far superior flex or contraction of the lats at the bottom of the movement.
Which pulldown is best for lats?
Compared to the traditional lat pulldown, the supinated lat pulldown does a better job of training your lats. An underhand grip allows you to pull the weight down further than you normally would with an overhand grip.
Which lat pulldown grip is best?
- Grasp the handles slightly wider than shoulder-width with a closed, overhand grip.
- Keep your torso and spine in a neutral position with a slight backward lean (approximately 10-15o backward should do the trick).
- Exhale while pulling the bar down toward the upper chest.
Are straight arm pulldowns worth it?
The study concluded that when the primary objective of a lat pull down is considered the front of the head is a better choice than behind the head.
Do straight arm pulldowns work chest?
Straight-Arm Pulldown Benefits Keeping the arms straight prevents the mid-back and biceps from taking over the movement, so you can focus on the lat muscles you’re trying to work more directly. Greater range of motion than standard pulldowns.
Does straight-arm pulldown work abs?
The straight arm pullover is a variation of the pulldown that can be done with dumbbells, instead of a cable machine. While it is a good substitute for the pulldown, we have to keep in mind that this exercise will actually work the chest muscles and shoulders as well.
Should I do reverse grip lat pulldowns?
Tip. Perform straight-arm pulldowns to strengthen your lats, teres major and triceps. Your abs also get in on the action by stabilizing your body while your arms move.
What do reverse grip lat pulldowns work?
By using a reverse-grip you target more of the lower lats since your upper arms are closer to your body, and you will also pull more with your biceps, which allows you to train with more weight.
What does reverse grip lat pulldown do?
Muscles Worked by the Reverse Grip Pulldown The exercise works the following muscles: Latissimus dorsi. Posterior deltoid. Teres major (back muscle that helps the lats)
Is wide grip better for lat pulldown?
The Reverse Grip Lat Pulldown helps to strengthen the back, as well as the shoulders, biceps and forearms. The latissimus dorsi (lats), a broad fan shaped muscle of the back, is particularly targeted during the exercise.
Is close grip or wide grip better for lats?
Which grip is better for the lat pulldown will depend on your goals. A wide grip is better for lifters who want to increase lat strength or size or for those looking to improve their pull-ups. A close grip is better for those looking to target their mid and upper back or increase the strength of their back overall.
Is neutral grip better for lats?
Muscle Activation A wide grip lat pulldown activates your lats more fully, and while it will activate your arms and shoulders, it focuses primarily on your upper and lower back. A close grip lat pulldown does work your lats, but also activates your chest and arms more.
How do I make my lats wider?
- 6 Ways To Build Bigger, Wider Lats. 6 Back Strength Exercise For A Bigger Back.
- Neutral Grip Pull-Ups With
- Reclining Rows. We love pull-ups.
- W-Handle Lat Pull-Downs With
- Meadow Rows.
- Unilateral Lat Pull-Downs With
- Dumbbell Incline Lat Swings.
Are behind the neck lat pulldowns good?
Neutral Grip โ This is the strongest of all pull-up grips. Parallel wrists place more emphasis on the brachialis, eliciting substantial arm growth. Taking advantage of the biomechanically advantageous grip also allows for utilizing heavier loads, producing greater recruitment of the inferior fibers of the Lats.
Is lat pulldown for back or shoulders?
Benefits Of Behind The Neck Lat Pulldowns It activates many of the muscles in your back like a standard pulldown but also activates your shoulder muscles. If performed correctly, it can help strengthen your upper body and improve your overall functionality.
Why do straight arm pulldowns hurt my triceps?
Lat pulldowns also work the rhomboid muscles on your upper back, which draw your shoulder blades toward your spine, as well as the lower trapezius muscles, which pull your shoulder blades down. The exercise strengthens the rear deltoids on the backs of your shoulders, which help pull the arms backward.
What are 3 exercises for the triceps?
- Close-Grip Bench Press. Not only does this tricep exercise work on the targeted area, but it will also improve upon your chest and core.
- Cable Rope Tricep Pushdown.
- Lying Triceps Extension.
- Tricep Dips.
- Diamond Push-Ups.
- Bench Dip.
- One-Arm Overhead Extension.
- Standard Push-Up.
Are straight arm pulldowns compound?
The reason that you feel your triceps working during straight arm pulldowns is that a straight arm pulldown (unlike a lat pulldown) is a pure shoulder extension exercise and the long head of the triceps is a shoulder extensor. This means that only your shoulder extensor muscles are involved in the movement.
Where should you feel straight-arm pulldown?

What’s the best exercise for chest?
- Incline push up. Equipment required: none.
- Flat bench press. Equipment required: barbell or dumbbells, flat bench.
- Incline bench press. Equipment required: barbell or dumbbells, incline bench.
- Decline bench press.
- Pushup.
- Cable crossover.
- Chest dip.
- Resistance band pullover.
Are stiff arm pulldowns good?

What are the best exercises for back?
- Kettlebell Swings.
- Barbell Deadlift.
- Barbell Bent-over Row.
- Pull-up.
- Dumbbell Single-arm Row.
- Chest-supported Dumbbell Row.
- Inverted Row.
- Lat Pulldown.
How many exercises should I do per muscle group?
When it comes to lat training, most people build their workouts around pull-ups, chin-ups, pulldowns, and rows. That’s no bad thing as these exercises are very effective back builders. However, all of these exercises have one thing in common โ they are compound exercises.