Pull Up vs Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown
Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan
Contents
Planfit users log Pull Up more often — 15,437 sessions vs 917. Compare Back form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Pull Up and Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Pull Up vs Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Pull Up more often — 15,437 sessions compared to 917 for Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Pull Up and Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Pull Up and Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown Differ
| What differs | Pull Up | Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | a pull-up bar | a machine |
| Difficulty | 4 of 5 | 1 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 15,437 sessions | 917 sessions |
How to Pull Up
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, gently pull your arms back.
- 3. Slowly return to the starting position while keeping your chest relaxed.
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 Pull Up, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Pull Up Guide page of our blog!
How to Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown
Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown muscles worked: Back
Form
- 1. Lower your elbows while facing forward.
- 2. Pull the bar until it touches your collarbone.
- 3. Slowly raise your arms to return to the starting position.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to strain your shoulders by fully extending your shoulders and arms.
- 2. Please be careful not to let your trapezius muscles rise up.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Back, Pull Up or Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown?
Planfit users log Pull Up more often — 15,437 sessions against 917 for Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown. Both train Back, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
What equipment do Pull Up and Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown need?
Pull Up needs a pull-up bar, and Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown needs a machine.
Which is easier to start with?
Close Grip Cable Lat Pulldown is the easier place to start. Move to Pull Up once your form holds up.
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