Lat Pulldown vs Inverted Row

Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan

Contents

Planfit users log Lat Pulldown more often — 81,834 sessions vs 439. Compare Back form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Lat Pulldown and Inverted Row for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Lat Pulldown vs Inverted Row : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Lat Pulldown more often — 81,834 sessions compared to 439 for Inverted Row.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Lat Pulldown and Inverted Row differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Lat Pulldown and Inverted Row Differ

What differsLat PulldownInverted Row
Muscles workedback, traps, and bicepsback, chest, and biceps
Machine typecable-drivenSmith-machine
Difficulty1 of 53 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users81,834 sessions439 sessions

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How to Lat Pulldown

Lat Pulldown gif

Lat Pulldown muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. Gather your shoulder blades and naturally pull your arms.
  2. 2. Lower your forearms vertically.
  3. 3. Pull until the bar touches your collarbone.
  4. 4. Slowly raise your arms and return to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to strain your shoulders by fully extending your shoulders and arms.
  2. 2. Please be careful not to let your trapezius muscles rise.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Lat Pulldown, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Lat Pulldown Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Lat Pulldown methods?Exercise Guide

How to Inverted Row

Inverted Row gif

Inverted Row muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. Pull your arms back naturally while bringing your shoulder blades together.
  2. 2. Pull until your elbows are vertical.
  3. 3. While keeping your body in a straight line, slowly extend your arms to return to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Be careful not to let the bar of the Smith machine come loose.
  2. 2. Engage your abs to keep your body in a straight line, making sure your lower back does not arch and your hips do not sag downward.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Inverted Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Inverted Row Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Inverted Row methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Back, Lat Pulldown or Inverted Row?

Planfit users log Lat Pulldown more often — 81,834 sessions against 439 for Inverted Row. Both train Back, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

Do Lat Pulldown and Inverted Row work the same muscles?

Not quite. Lat Pulldown loads back, traps, and biceps, and Inverted Row loads back, chest, and biceps.

What equipment do Lat Pulldown and Inverted Row need?

Lat Pulldown needs a machine, and Inverted Row needs a machine.

Which is easier to start with?

Lat Pulldown is the easier place to start. Move to Inverted Row once your form holds up.

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