Wide Pulldown Machine vs Butterfly Pull Up
Which one fits your Back workout plan?
Contents
Planfit users log Wide Pulldown Machine more often — 7,807 sessions vs 14. Compare Back form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Compare the benefits of Wide Pulldown Machine and Butterfly Pull Up and pick the one that fits your Back workout.
Wide Pulldown Machine vs Butterfly Pull Up: Which Do Planfit Users Choose?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Wide Pulldown Machine more often — 7,807 sessions compared to 14 for Butterfly Pull Up.
What most people do isn't always what fits you. Wide Pulldown Machine and Butterfly Pull Up differ in the muscles they work, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Wide Pulldown Machine and Butterfly Pull Up Differ
| What differs | Wide Pulldown Machine | Butterfly Pull Up |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | a machine | a pull-up bar |
| Difficulty | 1 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 7,807 sessions | 14 sessions |
How to Do Wide Pulldown Machine
Wide Pulldown Machine Muscles Worked: Back
Form
- 1. Gather your shoulder blades and naturally pull your arms.
- 2. Lower until your elbows are positioned at your sides.
- 3. Slowly return to the starting position while keeping your chest open.
Coach's Tips
- 1. Please be careful not to let your trapezius muscles rise.
- 2. Please keep your chest open so that your lower back doesn't round.
For a full Wide Pulldown Machine guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Wide Pulldown Machine exercise guide.
How to Do Butterfly Pull Up
Butterfly Pull Up Muscles Worked: Back
Form
- 1. Use the recoil to pull your arms so that your chest touches the bar.
- 2. Pull your arms naturally while squeezing your shoulder blades together.
- 3. Please repeat for the specified number of times.
Coach's Tips
- Please rise using the strength of your shoulder blades instead of your arms.
For a full Butterfly Pull Up guide with alternatives and benefits, see the Butterfly Pull Up exercise guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Back, Wide Pulldown Machine or Butterfly Pull Up?
Planfit users log Wide Pulldown Machine more often — 7,807 sessions against 14 for Butterfly Pull Up. Both train Back, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
What equipment do Wide Pulldown Machine and Butterfly Pull Up need?
Wide Pulldown Machine needs a machine, and Butterfly Pull Up needs a pull-up bar.
Which is easier to start with?
Wide Pulldown Machine is the easier place to start. Move to Butterfly Pull Up once your form holds up.
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