Why Do Pro Bodybuilders Struggle With Pull Ups/Chin Ups?

[Jizzacked]

pull ups are great, I typically hit them every back day, 3 sets of 8-12.  still can't do a muscle up, but one of these days...  these guys make it look so easy.

[BILL ANVIL]

Spot on. I laugh when some of the guys here say lifting is irrelevant and it's all about the drugs you take. That might be right if you want to look like the bloated meat bags that pass for pros nowadays, but if you're juicing, you're better off lowering the dosage and lifting harder/heavier, so your muscle quality looks more like that of the guys from the 70s, who had the best look, IMO.

qft!

[njanvi]

Spot on. I laugh when some of the guys here say lifting is irrelevant and it's all about the drugs you take. That might be right if you want to look like the bloated meat bags that pass for pros nowadays, but if you're juicing, you're better off lowering the dosage and lifting harder/heavier, so your muscle quality looks more like that of the guys from the 70s, who had the best look, IMO.

Great fucking post!

[whitewidow]

This guy is 240 and looks like a pro bodybuilder and he does something called "muscle ups" which look way harder than regular pull ups (not the diaper).

Jay Cutler

Franco columbu had the best pull up form out of any bodybuilder I have seen. if anybody has a link post it. he did them super wide gripped perfect reps

[BILL ANVIL]

Franco was also much stronger than Cutler, even made a better Mr O

[Radical Plato]

This guy is 240 and looks like a pro bodybuilder and he does something called "muscle ups" which look way harder than regular pull ups (not the diaper).

Thats not Bertil Fox

[Nails]

[Radical Plato]

Cant find a clip but jonnie Jackson is a beast when it comes to chins

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[wes]

Anybody who knows how to design a routine,would put either chins or deadlifts first on their back day.

Doing chins last,especially for people who suck at them,is a big mistake.

I do chins at least once a week and always do them as the first exercise,otherwise my reps suffer.

I doubt if Jay would have gotten more reps regardless of what order he does them in.

[mesmorph78]

Cant find a clip but jonnie Jackson is a beast when it comes to chins

[ Invalid YouTube link ]

no hes not he yanks and cheat... Horrible... he cheats at EVERYTHING
kai green does good chins

[oldtimer1]

Anybody who knows how to design a routine,would put either chins or deadlifts first on their back day.

Doing chins last,especially for people who suck at them,is a big mistake.

I do chins at least once a week and always do them as the first exercise,otherwise my reps suffer.

I doubt if Jay would have gotten more reps regardless of what order he does them in.

I agree with putting chins first but I always put deads near the end.  I'm not a powerlifter and I want to be really warmed up to dead.  Sure I use less weight this way but I'm working just as hard as if I would have put them first.  So a typical back day might me chins, low rows, single dumbbell rows and reverse pulldowns.  After lats I throw in the deads.  I'm warmed up and after a set or two light sets, I add the work weight. Putting them in first for me never felt right for my lower back. 

[arce1988]

 kali ped

[wes]

I agree with putting chins first but I always put deads near the end.  I'm not a powerlifter and I want to be really warmed up to dead.  Sure I use less weight this way but I'm working just as hard as if I would have put them first.  So a typical back day might me chins, low rows, single dumbbell rows and reverse pulldowns.  After lats I throw in the deads.  I'm warmed up and after a set or two light sets, I add the work weight. Putting them in first for me never felt right for my lower back. 

I used to do them last also,just a personal preferance,but I feel they kind of wake up the whole back from low back to traps that way I`m pretty much warmed up to do more isolation type work,without too many warmup sets.

In any case,you`re definately right as far as working just as hard, or harder goes, when they`re placed last in the routine.......back is pre-exhausted so even a bit lighter weight feels the same as a bit heavier weight would feel if done at the beginning.

[devilsmile]

I started doing deadlifts as my main movement awhile ago, weighted chins after and my back looks better, I don't have those "ribs" showing when I spread my back or reach my toes etc, it's also harder I think. I don't even use the machines anymore,  I may do the lower pulley machine or some set of t bar machine after my main basic training, but mainly because I have ectomorphs overtraining mind, other than that pulley machines are pointless. Oldschool chin ups have taken my heart.

[stuntmovie]

This subject is deeper than you think.

I don't know how important pull-ups are today but back in my USMC days ..pull ups and push ups, and sit ups, and hic-ups were damn important ... and together with the three mile run within a certain number of minutes ... were determining factors in whether or not you were physically fit to remain wtihin the Corps.

I'd say more about 'excess muscle', but I'm heading out to The Palms to punch some MMA dudes in their noses and will most likely send my next post from the VA intensive care ward.

[Mothballs]

I started doing deadlifts as my main movement awhile ago, weighted chins after and my back looks better, I don't have those "ribs" showing when I spread my back or reach my toes etc, it's also harder I think. I don't even use the machines anymore,  I may do the lower pulley machine or some set of t bar machine after my main basic training, but mainly because I have ectomorphs overtraining mind, other than that pulley machines are pointless. Oldschool chin ups have taken my heart.

Good move switching to the basics.

Chins and deads are all you really need for a big back.

[devilsmile]

Good move switching to the basics.

Chins and deads are all you really need for a big back.

definetely, if I would've only done this much earlyer.. oh well.

I encourage others to change to those basics as their main focuse because it feels better

[BILL ANVIL]

Good move switching to the basics.

Chins and deads are all you really need for a big back.

Yep, or alternate rows with deads. Anything more is a waste

[Mothballs]

Yep, or alternate rows with deads. Anything more is a waste

I was going to say that lol.

Row, chins, deads. Thats all you need for a big back. No machines no nothing.
 
The same goes for legs. Pretty much all you need are squats ( if your doing deads on back day ). Everything else is filler.

[devilsmile]

I was going to say that lol.

Row, chins, deads. Thats all you need for a big back. No machines no nothing.
 
The same goes for legs. Pretty much all you need are squats ( if your doing deads on back day ). Everything else is filler.

I've been thinking about not doing hack squats and legg presses anymore and just do squats. How would you tell me to do them? Pyramid up to my maximum and then do a 20 rep set in the end... maby some longues after that and stiff legg deadlifts? Stupid question which I allready know the answer to but whatever  

[Palpatine Q]

I do chins every back workout, I'm good for about 12 , then 10, then an ugly 10...... VERY hard exercise

[che]

Chins are my last exercise , I can do 25 w/out weights

[jude2]

Kai Green has no trouble with pullups at 300#. He is just alot stronger than Jay.

[Palpatine Q]

Chins are my last exercise , I can do 25 w/out weights

That;s very good, what do you weigh ?

[che]

That;s very good, what do you weigh ?

between 170-175lbs