24/06/2022
CLOSE GRIP OR WIDE GRIP?
A group of scientists recruited 12 men between the ages of 19 and 30 and attached electrodes to their biceps, lats, and traps. Then they had them perform four different types of pulldowns using 70% of their 1RM:
1. Hands wide apart using a supinated grip (palms facing the body)
2. Hands wide apart using a pronated grip (palms facing away from the body)
3. Hands shoulder-width apart using a supinated grip
4. Hands shoulder-width apart using a pronated grip
The attached electrodes told the researchers that shoulder-width and wide-grip versions activated the lats equally, while the varying grips had no significant effect on the biceps or traps.
What did matter, though, was using a pronated grip. Grasping the bar with your palms away activated the lats far better than a supinated grip.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU
To effectively target the lats during a pulldown, do the following:
* Use a pronated (palms away) grip.
* Pull to the top of the chest.
* Use the grip (shoulder width or wider) that feels the most comfortable.
Although
Using a Close grip
You can use more weight. If you’re looking to increase the overall strength of your back, you can use more load compared to a wide grip pulldown. This is also helpful if you’re working your way towards increased chin up strength or maybe even your first chin up.
You could include both grip widths in your workout. Or alternate between them from week to week to hit your lats from every angle.