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Getbig Bodybuilding Boards => Training Q&A => Topic started by: dantelis on May 15, 2008, 12:10:01 PM

Title: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: dantelis on May 15, 2008, 12:10:01 PM
Does anyone do straight arm pulldowns for back?  I did them today at the end of my back workout and could really feel it work the outer lats.  If anyone does these, have them been helpful in increasing lat width? 

Title: Re: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: candidizzle on May 15, 2008, 12:11:31 PM
yes ! i do these every back workout.
Title: Re: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: wes on May 15, 2008, 12:17:35 PM
Good finishing exercise for lats!!

I do them a lot.
Title: Re: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: candidizzle on May 15, 2008, 12:22:49 PM
a piece of advice... put your hands closer together, dont go up so high (keep tension on the lats) leanforward a little bit, and arch your back..   ..try it that way next time..  trust ! me
Title: Re: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: pumpster on May 15, 2008, 12:23:34 PM
Basically a pullover; also try with arms slightly bent and using a rope attachment, kneeling or sitting to get a better stretch. Very good exercise whether used to finish or as part of the main course.
Title: Re: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: coltrane on May 15, 2008, 12:44:09 PM
also, another variation after straight arm standing ones loss effectiveness:

seated (or kneeling) one arm pulldowns.  These isolate one side at a time. 

I've found that doing more one-sided movements helps my lats grow better.  Ex:  one armed cable rows, db rows, one-armed pulldowns etc...

just some variations i've found effective
Title: Re: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: dantelis on May 15, 2008, 02:36:22 PM
Cool!  Thanks for all the great advice.  I'll definitely continue doing this exercise.

Interesting, Pumpster, equating it with a pullover.  It is a pullover, but with a different range of motion and point of flexion.  I find pullovers work my intercostals more and that I just don't feel them in my lats the way I do the straight arm pulldowns.

Thanks for the advice on variations candidizzle.  I'll give your way a shot and see how it feels.
Title: Re: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: candidizzle on May 15, 2008, 04:35:04 PM
Cool!  Thanks for all the great advice.  I'll definitely continue doing this exercise.

Interesting, Pumpster, equating it with a pullover.  It is a pullover, but with a different range of motion and point of flexion.  I find pullovers work my intercostals more and that I just don't feel them in my lats the way I do the straight arm pulldowns.

Thanks for the advice on variations candidizzle.  I'll give your way a shot and see how it feels.
very intense inner back back contractions bro !
Title: Re: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: webcake on May 15, 2008, 04:52:45 PM
One of my favourite exercises. I always do them in between sets of barbell rows.  8)
Title: Re: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: Zach Trowbridge on May 19, 2008, 07:59:37 AM
When I do them I use one of the FreeMotion Dual Cross machines that have two handles that you can adjust to varying heights, and have them shoulder width all the way up.  When you come down you can bring your hands as far behind your body as you want, letting you really squeeze the shoulder blades down and back more than you could with just a bar or rope attachment.  Different from a pullover because the emphasis is on the contraction rather than the stretch.
Title: Re: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: NoCalBbEr on May 19, 2008, 10:47:35 AM
I only do them when I'm pre exhausting my back workout
Title: Re: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: pumpster on May 19, 2008, 11:03:39 AM
When I do them I use one of the FreeMotion Dual Cross machines that have two handles that you can adjust to varying heights, and have them shoulder width all the way up.  When you come down you can bring your hands as far behind your body as you want, letting you really squeeze the shoulder blades down and back more than you could with just a bar or rope attachment.  Different from a pullover because the emphasis is on the contraction rather than the stretch.

Good example of a machine sometimes doing it better.

They don't have to be just a finishing exercise.

Title: Re: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: J.O.B. on June 07, 2008, 01:39:08 PM
ur not squeezing ur lats at the bottom of the rep, waste of time n energy rite thr
Title: Re: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: Charlys69 on June 26, 2008, 12:53:01 PM
i used it today for the final pump in my back-workout. I use the upper cable row working up to 275 lbs. and doing 19 reps in Pitt-Hardcore-Style (12 reps, 4-5 seconds rest, another 2, 5-6 seconds rest, another 2, 6-7 rest another 1 and so on).

First exercise lat pulldown 1 arm pyramide up to 335 lbs for 6 reps
second: T-Bar row lying on a bench (Pitt-Force) single-reps with short rest 3-8 seconds in between, 11 x 420 lbs
third: "prayer" Pitt-Hardcore 19 x 275 lbs
Title: Re: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: slaveboy1980 on June 26, 2008, 04:17:04 PM
i used it today for the final pump in my back-workout. I use the upper cable row working up to 275 lbs. and doing 19 reps in Pitt-Hardcore-Style (12 reps, 4-5 seconds rest, another 2, 5-6 seconds rest, another 2, 6-7 rest another 1 and so on).

First exercise lat pulldown 1 arm pyramide up to 335 lbs for 6 reps
second: T-Bar row lying on a bench (Pitt-Force) single-reps with short rest 3-8 seconds in between, 11 x 420 lbs
third: "prayer" Pitt-Hardcore 19 x 275 lbs

hey man, impressive weights but i think its easier if you start your own training log instead...?
Title: Re: Anyone do straight arm pulldowns?
Post by: dov on June 26, 2008, 04:56:21 PM
Some refer to these as "Dickerson's" ....very good squeeze..just did these yesterday for the 1st time in a while and my lats are on fire today