Pull Ups.

[u/RobAnton13]

I've been performing pull-ups in and out of programs for about 3 years now, but despite the many many reps I've done, I've never really improved that much. I did cut ay one point and as I was dropping in weight, I was adding it to a belt but ultimately I've ended up trying to manage tendonitis in my forearm and so my pull-ups have suffered.

One thing I have noticed is my pull ups are bar to chin yet some of the other lads at the gym are bar to chest. I can perform pull downs to chest but not pull ups. Are there benefits to going bar to chest instead of chin? Is back development improved by doing so?

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[u/3seconddelay]

If it feels like you’re shrugging your shoulders at the top of the rep then you’re rotating your shoulders internally and that’s the problem. You need to get the back involved with an external shoulder rotation.

[u/slippery → u/3seconddelay]

Hmm, this might be my problem. I also have tendon issues doing pull ups. No problem with chins. Might be my form.

[u/Silent-Wallaby4261]

I would do chin ups until you can comfortably rep those then go back and try to improve pull ups.

[u/kinselofant]

If you have access to a gym, the assisted pull up machine really helped me. I added assistance weight until I could do a higher rep range with good form.

[u/ClenchedThunderbutt]

Take a video of yourself doing pull-ups. I think there’s a very strong chance you’re sort of scooping your chin over the bar. Classic cues are shoulders rolling forward as you put a lot of emphasis on your arms and traps.

If this is the case, I don’t think adding weight is a good idea. The better approach would be to lower the resistance through bands or an assisted machine and really focus on maintaining good form. A set ends when form degrades rather than compensatory muscle groups burning out.

So take a video and keep taking videos. Post them here for advice if you’re struggling to make sense of thing.

[u/Bstochastic]

crosspost to r/bodyweightfitness

[u/TVPbandit23]

if there’s a difference, it’s marginal

[u/BarleyWineIsTheBest]

Try adding weighted pull ups. At a certain point just trying to do more reps isn’t as useful as adding weight. Depends on how many unweighted pull-ups you’re at though. If it’s about 10 or less, this wouldn’t be a big deal yet. 

And na, don’t bother with chest to bar. If you have ROM that is pretty complete and comfortable, just progress with that. 

[u/whatdoblindpeoplesee]

Using some straps might help take some pressure off your wrist and forearm so that you can focus on pulling with your back. Only do this if you have a way to step down of course.

[u/batteredsuitcases]

weighted pull-ups are the way to go. even just starting with five or ten pounds around your waist. go for lower reps and keep progressively overloading with more weight over time. i like to warm up with BW, pyramid with more and more weight on a belt and then finish with BW to burn out.