seated cable rows

[NoCalBbEr]

hey guys
I was just curious, is seated cable rows nassary  to add to a back work??  I'm kinda stuck on what to add as a finisher in my back routine.. deads,chins, bb rows and t bar ros are a given.. its just up to  cable rows, DB rows or hammer strengh rows.. I have an article that his all the 10 Mr. O on it.. thats like my cheat sheet to look for routines. the biggest issue i have with picking exerises is that, some of then are not changing to me any more.. i.e. i can do the full stack for cable rows for 15 . with DB rows, my gym only goes up to 135's. which i can do for 15 reps.. I dont feel a chang for them.

so what do you think??

thx for any replies.

[Cavalier22]

i like finishin up with seated rows myself

[smaul]

With a good squeeze I think they're great, therefore not too heavy.  Especially good at the end of the workout.

[GoneAway]

I just started doing them as a change from BB rows. I do close grip to work the lower lats. Seems to be going OK, will see in a month or two.

I like to see what alternatives there are, so if you feel like trying some new exercise that you make up yourself (e.g. for the back - standing rope cable rows) then do it. You sound like you've tried them all, so no harm in testing what can be done to work muscles.

[dontknowit]

Seated rows? Beside the regular barbell row I also perform a seated row.

[sarcasm]

they're not necessary at all really, one thing i don't understand is the way guys are doing this movement over the past few years, the way that they're supposed to be done is the way you see Arnold and Franco doing them in Pumping Iron leaning all the way forward for a full stretch and then pulling back, it seems like nowadays you see these guys not even leaning forward on these, what does that do?

[pumpster]

Not moving as much would supposedly be more strict but is another example of the fact that strictness is sometimes a negative. The only way i find cable rows effective is when the pulley's raised 1-2' above where you're seated, which hits the muscles intensely IMO. Also matters which handles are used-neutral palms in narrow or medium width grips hit the spot.

[sarcasm]

Not moving as much would supposedly be more strict but is another example of the fact that strictness is sometimes a negative. The only way i find cable rows effective is when the pulley's raised 1-2' above where you're seated, which hits the muscles intensely IMO. Also matters which handles are used-neutral palms in narrow or medium width grips hit the spot.

Cutler uses one exactly like that one in his video, the cable is abot a foot or more above where he's seated and it looks like it really pulls on the lats.

[pumpster]

Anything to do with lat work leverage machines with or without pulleys are the best IMO. Cutler's got a contract with powertecfitness.com; i have their older leverage lat pulldown/row pulley; it's as good as gym equipment.

[JPM]

If you can do a full stack of cable rows for 15 than try doing them one arm at a time. Alternate from arm to arm. You gym should have adjustable handles/grips for this purpose. As Sarcasm said, one of the better ways is to lean into the cable row exercise. Much better stretch and muscle recuitment. But that's just another way to do the exercise. Sitting straight up also has it's value. Cable rows can give a variety to hitting the lats, rather that the usually rows, DL, etc. Good Luck.

[texasRUSH]

how do you stabilize yourself to allow for 1 armed pulls effectively?  just grab the bench and hold on?

[JPM]

TexR: Just give it some thought, Bud.  Think about it.
Good Luck.

[texasRUSH]

lol not to sound like a moron but i have and i've tried and it's just plain awkward...

[JPM]

TexR: Where there's a will, there's a way. Put a heavy DB between you leg's, hold that for example. The foot stop should be enought for anyome doing one are cable rows, unless you have a different setup at your gym. Good Luck.

[IceCold]

they're not necessary at all really, one thing i don't understand is the way guys are doing this movement over the past few years, the way that they're supposed to be done is the way you see Arnold and Franco doing them in Pumping Iron leaning all the way forward for a full stretch and then pulling back, it seems like nowadays you see these guys not even leaning forward on these, what does that do?

whenever i lean to far forward, i feel a strain in my low back. 

[IceCold]

Not moving as much would supposedly be more strict but is another example of the fact that strictness is sometimes a negative. The only way i find cable rows effective is when the pulley's raised 1-2' above where you're seated, which hits the muscles intensely IMO. Also matters which handles are used-neutral palms in narrow or medium width grips hit the spot.

i agree with you.

when the pulley is the same height as the seat is, the feeling isnt the same.

[GoneAway]

I lean as far forward that will work my lats the best. At first I didn't lean far forward and I found out that just by looking at myself side-on in the mirror, the more I lean forward, the more it stretches the lats. Trick is not to push too far back with the lower back. Keep fairly straight and thrust the chest out at the end.

[Jr. Yates]

one of my FAV excersises! pretend your hands are "hooks" and do the movement slowly! very seldomly do i use this as a core excersise and go super heavy.

[Overload]

i like to do them one arm at a time and really squeeze my lats...superset these with pullovers if you wish.