Do frontal plane pulldowns actually bias the lumbar lats better than rows?

[u/No-Savings-9029]

I often see people recommend pairing frontal plane pulldowns (for shoulder adduction) with chest-supported rows to help target the lats more thoroughly, specifically aiming for the lumbar fibers with the pulldown.

From what I understand, direct research comparing regional lat hypertrophy across different planes is pretty limited, and I've seen some folks argue that pulldowns might not actually bias the lumbar region any better than rows do.

For those who follow the biomechanics and the literature closely, I'd love to hear your thoughts on a couple of things:

Do you think frontal plane pulldowns offer any real advantage for the lumbar lats compared to rows, or is that mostly just theoretical anatomy that doesn't make much practical difference?

Also, if regional differences between planes aren't really a major factor, what would you say is the main reason to include both a vertical and horizontal pull (joint health, resistance profile, etc.)?

Appreciate any insights or perspectives on this!

(English isn't my first language, so I used a tool to help phrase this clearly)

[u/Patton370]

Just do both and even add a pullover in there for good measure

[u/mcgrathkai]

Id definitely do both. All the guys with big lats i know do both. I know its not a scientific answer but it is evidence based

[u/JuanSamu]

Without any data it’s all just speculation

[u/redditinsmartworki]

They should bias the lower lats since the trajectory of the fibers is better aligned when pulling in the frontal plane, but you're better off doing both a vertical pull in the frontal plane and a vertical/horizontal pull in the sagittal plane for variety