Barbell Row vs Assisted Pull Up
Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan
Contents
Assisted Pull Up is the easier place to start — difficulty 1 of 5 vs 4. Compare Back form cues and when to progress.
Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Barbell Row and Assisted Pull Up for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Barbell Row vs Assisted Pull Up : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Assisted Pull Up more often — 22,168 sessions compared to 18,910 for Barbell Row.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Barbell Row and Assisted Pull Up differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Barbell Row and Assisted Pull Up Differ
| What differs | Barbell Row | Assisted Pull Up |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | a barbell | a machine |
| Difficulty | 4 of 5 | 1 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 18,910 sessions | 22,168 sessions |
How to Barbell Row
Barbell Row muscles worked: Back
Form
- 1. Please pull the barbell towards your belly button so that it can go up vertically.
- 2. While bringing your shoulder blades together, naturally pull your elbows and hands.
- 3. While supporting the weight with your back, lower your hands down to below your knees.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to let your elbows flare out.
- 2. Please be careful not to let your back be too upright or move up and down.
- 3. Engage your core to prevent your back from rounding.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Barbell Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Barbell Row Guide page of our blog!
How to Assisted Pull Up
Assisted Pull Up muscles worked: Back
Form
- 1. Please pull your arms back until your chest touches the bar.
- 2. While bringing your shoulder blades together, naturally pull your arms back.
- 3. With your chest relaxed, slowly return to the starting position.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to lose your starting position when you come down.
- 2. Please rise using the strength of your shoulder blades, not your arms.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Assisted Pull Up, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Assisted Pull Up Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Back, Barbell Row or Assisted Pull Up?
Neither is clearly ahead — Planfit users log both at a similar rate. They both train Back, so the choice comes down to the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
What equipment do Barbell Row and Assisted Pull Up need?
Barbell Row needs a barbell, and Assisted Pull Up needs a machine.
Which is easier to start with?
Assisted Pull Up is the easier place to start. Move to Barbell Row once your form holds up.
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