question

Gsus · 02-10-2006, 06:10 AM

which is better for lat pulldowns pulling the bar to your chest or behind your head but im probably sure it works different part of the lats same with shoulder press behind and infront is that different parts of the shoulders also

**davtown** · 02-10-2006, 06:43 AM

from purely a safety standpoint, I wouldn't do anything "behind the head"

If you want a different angle, you can try leaning back pretty far and pulling the bar to your abs

Meat Head · 02-10-2006, 04:29 PM

I agree with davtown. I never do anything behind the head, it really tweaks the neck and shoulders.

SoMdHunter · 02-11-2006, 01:37 AM

According to my book on bodybuilding, (The New Encyclodedia of Modern Bodybuilding) the wide grip chins behind the neck, are to widen the upper back and create a full sweep in the lats. The purpose of the lat pulldowns is to widen the upper lats. Doing it behind the back is just a variation of pulling the bar to your chest.

The book also says that the staple of your back routine should be the chin ups, and not the lat pulldowns. But many people aren't strong enough to do chin ups. For example, the 3 biggest guys in my gym are truly large with incredible strength. They routinely do lat pulls of up to 300lbs, yet not one of them can do chin-ups without getting on the "cheater machine". I feel pretty good about being able to do 10-15 chin-ups, even though I can't do as much weight on the lat pull down as they do.

Anyway, I see guys in my gym doing them behind the neck all the time, so if you feel comfortable doing them, I would say go ahead.

**Peaked_18** · 02-11-2006, 01:54 AM

To the front is fine, going behind the neck is fine only to the top ear level.

Lift · 02-11-2006, 11:23 AM

And be careful behind the head.. i clonked myself on the top of the head last week, pull the first one down v slowly to make sure you have the right line.

02-10-2006, 06:10 AM	#1
Gsus Amateur Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 43 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	question which is better for lat pulldowns pulling the bar to your chest or behind your head but im probably sure it works different part of the lats same with shoulder press behind and infront is that different parts of the shoulders also

02-10-2006, 06:43 AM	#2
davtown OM NOM NOM NOM Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 2,360 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 129	from purely a safety standpoint, I wouldn't do anything "behind the head" If you want a different angle, you can try leaning back pretty far and pulling the bar to your abs __________________ --Training Journal-- current/goal D: 350/380 S: 280/300 B: 235/260

02-11-2006, 01:37 AM	#4
SoMdHunter Pro Stature Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: In my treestand Posts: 377 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 6	According to my book on bodybuilding, (The New Encyclodedia of Modern Bodybuilding) the wide grip chins behind the neck, are to widen the upper back and create a full sweep in the lats. The purpose of the lat pulldowns is to widen the upper lats. Doing it behind the back is just a variation of pulling the bar to your chest. The book also says that the staple of your back routine should be the chin ups, and not the lat pulldowns. But many people aren't strong enough to do chin ups. For example, the 3 biggest guys in my gym are truly large with incredible strength. They routinely do lat pulls of up to 300lbs, yet not one of them can do chin-ups without getting on the "cheater machine". I feel pretty good about being able to do 10-15 chin-ups, even though I can't do as much weight on the lat pull down as they do. Anyway, I see guys in my gym doing them behind the neck all the time, so if you feel comfortable doing them, I would say go ahead. __________________ Vegetarian - ancient Indian term for bad hunter.

02-11-2006, 11:23 AM	#6
Lift I Love IronMass.Com Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 825 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 12	And be careful behind the head.. i clonked myself on the top of the head last week, pull the first one down v slowly to make sure you have the right line. __________________ MrLiftALot@hotmail.com "King Kong Ain't Got Sh*t On Me..."

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02-10-2006, 04:29 PM	#3
Meat Head Amateur Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: ATX Posts: 44 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	I agree with davtown. I never do anything behind the head, it really tweaks the neck and shoulders.

02-11-2006, 01:54 AM	#5
Peaked_18 a la commode Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,247 Recipes: 2 Rep Power: 96	To the front is fine, going behind the neck is fine only to the top ear level.