Latt Pulldowns : Technique

HEADRAT · 12 Dec 2006 at 15:57

What is the best technique for an effective latt pulldown, I always feel like I'm working my arms more than my latts

HEADRAT

Red and White · 12 Dec 2006 at 16:03

HEADRAT said:
What is the best technique for an effective latt pulldown, I always feel like I'm working my arm more than my latts

HEADRAT

same here. i usually go for behind the head, but i heard from gym instructor say that doing it like that is really bad for your spine as it compresses it :eek:

but i wouldnt beleive a word he said.

it hurts my back more going infront of my head.

HEADRAT · 12 Dec 2006 at 16:05

Exactly the same advice but I hate the in front of your head technique just feels "wrong".

HEADRAT

Red and White · 12 Dec 2006 at 16:07

do you ever do pull ups instead. essentially the same excercise but feels better for your back imo. more natural

HEADRAT · 12 Dec 2006 at 16:09

No but I may try, they have a "pull-up" machine at the gym which allows you to put weights on to help you, at the moment I don't think I could do 1 pull-up unassisted

HEADRAT

Red and White · 12 Dec 2006 at 16:26

HEADRAT said:
No but I may try, they have a "pull-up" machine at the gym which allows you to put weights on to help you, at the moment I don't think I could do 1 pull-up unassisted

HEADRAT

they are very hard using the wide arm technique. the weight assistance is good though, our gym has one of those.

Ed · 12 Dec 2006 at 16:45

The form can slip when pulling down. A pull up keeps it strict which makes it a much more productive exercise.

Chong Warrior · 12 Dec 2006 at 21:59

Pulldowns are usefull to help build up your strength for the more difficult pull-ups. Personally I don't like doing behind your head, it feels un-natural. I don't like wide grip either, seems to put a lot of strain on the shoulders and not in a good way.

I find the trick to a good pulldown is to think of your hands as hooks, grip very tight and then try not think about them, instead concentrate on pulling down to your sides with your elbows. Gets the back muscles working hard

Worth sticking with because once you get strong and progress to pullups these are a really great exercise for adding width to your lats and getting that V-shape

PAz · 13 Dec 2006 at 09:51

Like CW said the key is in the elbows. Keep them out and make sure your keep them fairly parellel with the body.

a lot of people tend to do LPD almost like an incline bench because it means they can shift more poundage.

GuruJockStrap · 13 Dec 2006 at 10:29

Along with pulling from the elbows, I find squeezing your shoulder blades at the bottom helps as well.

digitalwolf · 13 Dec 2006 at 11:35

Lat pulldows are part of my programme at the gym and I find they only touch my arms. If you widen your span on the bar it attacks your chest then.

Ed · 13 Dec 2006 at 11:36

digitalwolf said:
Lat pulldows are part of my programme at the gym and I find they only touch my arms. If you widen your span on the bar it attacks your chest then.

The form is wrong then.

PAz · 13 Dec 2006 at 13:22

digitalwolf said:
Lat pulldows are part of my programme at the gym and I find they only touch my arms. If you widen your span on the bar it attacks your chest then.

Drop the weight, what you describe is a typical example of what I said above, people use the LPD like an incline bench when it gets too heavy!

oddjob62 · 13 Dec 2006 at 14:44

PAz said:
Drop the weight, what you describe is a typical example of what I said above, people use the LPD like an incline bench when it gets too heavy!

Yeah... that's one reason why i prefer behind the head pulldowns. No way you can lean back doing it that way.

Mr Nice · 13 Dec 2006 at 15:47

To the back of the head, and a very wide grip. I also go for an underhand grip close together and that works out the lats & biceps quite nicely

Raz · 13 Dec 2006 at 21:33

Not sure if this is a good thing to do but you can change the attachment thing (i.e. the bar) on the lat pull down machine to the 2 handle grip thing (so your hands are close together). If I do this I feel like it's actually doing something for my back.

Not very descriptive but I'm sure someone knows what I'm on about