Pendlay Row vs Neutral Grip Chin Up

Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan

Contents

Neutral Grip Chin Up is the easier place to start — difficulty 3 of 5 vs 5. Compare Back form cues and when to progress.

Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Pendlay Row and Neutral Grip Chin Up for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Pendlay Row vs Neutral Grip Chin Up : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Pendlay Row more often — 344 sessions compared to 328 for Neutral Grip Chin Up.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Pendlay Row and Neutral Grip Chin Up differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Pendlay Row and Neutral Grip Chin Up Differ

What differsPendlay RowNeutral Grip Chin Up
Equipmenta barbella pull-up bar
Difficulty5 of 53 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users344 sessions328 sessions

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How to Pendlay Row

Pendlay Row gif

Pendlay Row muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. Please pull towards your belly button so that the barbell can go up vertically.
  2. 2. While gathering your shoulder blades, naturally pull your elbows and hands.
  3. 3. Hold the weight with your back strength and lower it completely to the ground.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to let your elbows flare out.
  2. 2. Please be careful not to overly straighten your back or move it up and down.
  3. 3. Engage your core to prevent your back from rounding.

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

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

How to Neutral Grip Chin Up

Neutral Grip Chin Up gif

Neutral Grip Chin Up muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. Please pull your arms back until your chest touches the bar.
  2. 2. While bringing your shoulder blades together, naturally pull your arms back.
  3. 3. With your chest relaxed, slowly return to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to lose your starting position when you come down.
  2. 2. Please rise using the strength of your shoulder blades, not your arms.

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

Do you want to know more about Neutral Grip Chin Up methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Back, Pendlay Row or Neutral Grip Chin 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 Pendlay Row and Neutral Grip Chin Up need?

Pendlay Row needs a barbell, and Neutral Grip Chin Up needs a pull-up bar.

Which is easier to start with?

Neutral Grip Chin Up is the easier place to start. Move to Pendlay Row once your form holds up.

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