Hi-pulls are normally done on a bar, with the hands fairly wide out. Up-right rows, using a bar, are gripped closer together. The wider grip (Hi-pulls) with the elbows out and back their widest, brings the lateral delt head into play much better. Up-right rows also affect the lateral head, but to a lesser degree. Both versions fall into the pull class, with each also using the traps, front/rear delts and biceps.
For me, DB Hi-pulls (alternate sides) gives more focus on the delts. Keeping the elbows out wide, with a DB, is the important thing in this exercise. Can build up to quite a bit of weight with either a BB or DB. Olympic lifters live by these pulls and checkout the shoulder and upper back mass on them. Gironda used a style of BB Hi-pulls as a regular BB delt exercise years ago.
Might consider a E-Z bar if wrist trouble or really heavy DB's. Actually, giving the reverse BB curl a fair try may surprise you as far as bicep growth goes. And than there are close grip curl grip pull-ups. An excellent exercise, but not for everyone.
To me there is nothing so boring as any kind of curling. That can go for direct tricep work also. Have not done either for years. Good Luck.
