Barbell Row vs Wide Grip Seated Cable Row
Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan
Contents
Planfit users log Barbell Row more often — 18,910 sessions vs 3,456. Compare Back form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Barbell Row and Wide Grip Seated Cable Row for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Barbell Row vs Wide Grip Seated Cable Row : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Barbell Row more often — 18,910 sessions compared to 3,456 for Wide Grip Seated Cable Row.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Barbell Row and Wide Grip Seated Cable Row 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 Wide Grip Seated Cable Row Differ
| What differs | Barbell Row | Wide Grip Seated Cable Row |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | a barbell | a machine |
| Difficulty | 4 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 18,910 sessions | 3,456 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 Wide Grip Seated Cable Row
Wide Grip Seated Cable Row muscles worked: Back
Form
- 1. As you gather your shoulder blades, naturally pull your arms back.
- 2. Pull until the grip touches your abdomen.
- 3. Return to the starting position with your back straight and your elbows fully extended.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to let your elbows flare out.
- 2. Please keep your chest open so that your back doesn't round.
- 3. Please stabilize your back so that it doesn't move back and forth.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Wide Grip Seated Cable Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Wide Grip Seated Cable Row Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Back, Barbell Row or Wide Grip Seated Cable Row?
Planfit users log Barbell Row more often — 18,910 sessions against 3,456 for Wide Grip Seated Cable Row. Both train Back, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
What equipment do Barbell Row and Wide Grip Seated Cable Row need?
Barbell Row needs a barbell, and Wide Grip Seated Cable Row needs a machine.
Which is easier to start with?
Wide Grip Seated Cable Row is the easier place to start. Move to Barbell Row once your form holds up.
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