pulldown vs chinups

pulldown vs chinups/pullups

is it better doing pulldowns (the thing where u sit on a seat and pul down, same movement as chinups only that you dont lift urself) or doing chinups for working the biceps and back?

im thinking about doing chinups/pullups (not very good with the names of the different exersices) with wide grip, pulling myself up so the thing i pull from will be behind my neck, you know that version of a chinup?
and doing the standard narrow grip palms facing me chinup.

ive been doing the same thing, only with using the pulldown mashine and i was wondering what will give the best workout from these two? i will ofcource hang weights from my body so i will do the same ammount of reps.
 
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Bent over bb rows and chin ups will build an awesome back. There's no need to go wide grip on pullups or pulldowns as it actually limits your ROM (range of motion).
 
Karky said:
is it better doing pulldowns (the thing where u sit on a seat and pul down, same movement as chinups only that you dont lift urself) or doing chinups for working the biceps and back?

im thinking about doing chinups/pullups (not very good with the names of the different exersices) with wide grip, pulling myself up so the thing i pull from will be behind my neck, you know that version of a chinup?
and doing the standard narrow grip palms facing me chinup.

ive been doing the same thing, only with using the pulldown mashine and i was wondering what will give the best workout from these two? i will ofcource hang weights from my body so i will do the same ammount of reps.

Chin Ups/Pull Ups are far superior to the Lat Pulldown, because you are moving your own body weight around a stationary bar, not moving the weight to your body. As pointed out, chin ups and pull ups will build a massive back!

Good luck!

Andrew
 
Agreed on the chin-ups. To build on what evolution said, you don't need to go wide. Not an ergonomicly natural position. Same with going behind your neck. In fact, that particular motion puts so much stress on your support structure that you might be assured of having future shoulder problems.
 
ooh.. weird. i just saw so many putting it behind the head so i figured it was very good for the back or something since it looks like it uses more of the back muscles.

what about palms? facing inward or outward, whats the difference?
also, pull up and chin ups, is it just different names for the same thing?

and ill be hanging weights from my body, as i can do like 20 pull ups and i want to do like 3-6 :p that wont make any difference about it being better or worse than pull down will it?
 
from the article

Chin-Ups vs Pull-Ups: What Is The Difference?


In kinesiologese, and throughout this article, pull-ups are chin-ups done with a pronated grip (palms down grip) and chin-up are done with either a semi-supinated (palms facing each other) or with a supinated grip (palms facing you grip). What is the best grip for chins?

There is no such thing as a best grip for performing chins. Empirically speaking, the people I know with the best upper back development use a myriad of grips to recruit as many back muscles as possible. You just have to look at the upper back development of the gymnasts who medalled recently in the still rings event at the Atlanta Olympic Summer Games.
 
I vary the grips and width of the grip with every cycle and do that with any bicep work.

If you have a chin up machine that supports some of your weight, that's a good way to start. Most people starting out can't just do 12 chin ups, so the lat pulldown is an alternative. In order to vary the weight on a chin up, you have to have a spotter or weights hanging from your body.. so it's not as practical as the lat pulldown.

I wouldn't do any kind of pushing or pulling behind the head w/ lat pulldowns or military press. Keep the weight in front of your head.
 
hahahahaha how many times have I said do tactical chin ups?!?!?!

If you wanna be the balls get urself some tacticals rings from jeff martone, search google or build youself a chin up bar that hangs from chains, drilled into the wall.
 
That tactical gear is pretty nice, but way overpriced. $150 for some ropes and handles? Those things better be made out of diamonds...
 
150$ ???

i got mine for $80, there must have been a sale going on when i bought them. make your own instead of dropping 150$
 
Seriously... Anyway, I already got something like that. Good thing I saw this website today when I returned my bowflex...lol, I kept the grips. They're sweet.
 
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