Fast movements

[Dr.EM]

I would have thought a good way to get onto doing wide arm pull-ups would be starting with closer arm pull-ups? I'm sure I could do close arm ones no problem then just slowly move them further apart (though the grip seems to change at some point?). Anyhow, nothing to do them on that I know of. Not keen on joining a gym really; theres the having to travel there, the embaressment factor and I won't be able to listen to music properly which I like to do (headphones/earbuds are really unsuitable when moving around I find).

Yeah, I definately intend to start low and perfect the technique with it. Certainly don't want to do myself a permnament back injury

 

[benjo plz.]

All had a machine for lat-pulldowns however which is quite handy for building up the strength necessary to do wide arm pull-ups so that would do.

I don't think lat pull down machines allow people to learn the form properly in the way that an assisted pullup machine does.

As in it's much harder to get the form wrong on an assisted machine than it is on a lat machine.

 

[semi-pro waster]

I don't think lat pull down machines allow people to learn the form properly in the way that an assisted pullup machine does.

As in it's much harder to get the form wrong on an assisted machine than it is on a lat machine.

I agree that the motion isn't the same, my point was simply that not all gyms have an assisted pull-up machine so it isn't a practical option for everyone.

Dr.EM: I'm not totally sure what you mean about the grip changing, you might be getting confused between chin-ups (I've always done them close-grip with palms facing me) and pull-ups (can be done either close or wide-grip but the basic grip stays the same). The assisted pull-up machines do have a 'bent' bar normally which gives possibly more comfortable form but an ordinary pull-up bar can be either straight or bent, that just depends on what you get.

I'd also say that the embarrassment factor isn't something that you should be overly worried about, you are unlikely to be the least fit person there and even if you are other people should be more concerned with their own workout. If anything you might be offered some help but that is normally as far as any interest will go. The rest of the factors are fair enough but I don't buy the embarassment one.