Can you help me with Lat Pulldowns?
Hey guys! I’ve seen lat pulldowns done a couple of ways. Type A - while sitting straight up, using a wide grip pull straight down to your chest then behind the neck. Type B - Leaning back at an angle, using a wide grip pull down at an angle to your chest. Can anyone tell me the difference between the two or which way is best?
Nutrition tip of the day: Try seasoning chicken with Cavender’s all purpose Greek Seasoning and pepper before grilling! I use chicken tenders so there is lots of flavor 
You probably all know this one but on the off chance I thought I’d share!
February 2, 2009 at 6:32 am
Be right over — ahhh to help you know
February 2, 2009 at 7:03 am
The better way is to pull straight down in front of your chest, don’t lean back. Leaning back involves your body weight instead of your muscles. Behind the neck is dangerous because of the extra strain on your shoulders. Shoulder width or a little wider is enough. Some trainers say a palm-facing-your-body grip with the shoulder-width grip.
February 2, 2009 at 7:24 am
I work with a trainer and she has me lean back slightly and hold while I pull the bar down to my chest. Grip is palms away.
beekpr1
February 2, 2009 at 9:23 am
Hello Penny.
The behid the neck pulldowns work the middle of your back while the front pulldowns work the upper back/lats. You want to get a wide grip and pull the bar to the top part of your chest.
Just so you know, the behind the neck version is very hard on your shoulders, so if youre going to use it, be careful.
I looked through your progress photos and it looks like youre doing great. Good luck to you and hope that I was able to answer your question
February 2, 2009 at 9:32 am
I was told by a personal trainer I worked out with a couple of years ago to do it the Type B way. You don’t lean way back, just slightly.
February 2, 2009 at 7:56 pm
The more you lean back, the more it hits the thickness of your back
The way I like to do it, is to sit straight up, then get a slight arch in the lower back, and bow your chest to the ceiling, then pull down to the upper portion of hte chest.
February 2, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Thanks for all the help
Janthony, that’s actually the way I was taught to do it many years ago! I think I like that way the best too.. I had forgotten about arching the lower back! Haha … old age catching up with me!
February 2, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Here you go Penny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdD46gGjW3I
February 3, 2009 at 8:15 pm
BTW Penny - I concur with Janthony - just an aside though– do not do them behind the neck — very dangerous - ive always read/been told to stay away from that exercise
February 5, 2009 at 5:15 am
I concur with Janthony as well…slight arch and as you know by now no behind the neck unless you want to tear your rotator.
February 16, 2009 at 11:08 am
lat pull downs for me is done more then the two ways you talked about. not only do i use the first way, the second way, but i use the d handle close grip, the rope with my right foot on the seat, leaning back in a standing position, and like all excerises there is more then one way or even two ways to hit the muscle area, it is a matter of how many times you do the same routine over and over, muscles adapt to routine and hence not grow. changing the way i workout and even gym partners works well for me. there is more then one way to skin a cat….lol…have a great holiday. ttyl
jeff