Pull Up vs Close Grip Chin Up
Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan
Contents
Planfit users log Pull Up more often — 15,437 sessions vs 345. Compare Back form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Pull Up and Close Grip Chin Up for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Pull Up vs Close Grip Chin Up : 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 345 for Close Grip Chin Up.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Pull Up and Close 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 Pull Up and Close Grip Chin Up Differ
| What differs | Pull Up | Close Grip Chin Up |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | 4 of 5 | 3 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 15,437 sessions | 345 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 Chin Up
Close Grip Chin Up muscles worked: Back
Form
- 1. Please pull your arms back until your chest touches the bar.
- 2. While bringing your shoulder blades together, naturally pull your arms back.
- 3. Slowly return to the starting position with your chest relaxed.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to lose your starting position when you come down.
- 2. Please go up using the strength of your shoulder blades, not your arms.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Close Grip Chin Up, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Close Grip Chin Up Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Back, Pull Up or Close Grip Chin Up?
Planfit users log Pull Up more often — 15,437 sessions against 345 for Close Grip Chin Up. 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 Chin Up need?
Pull Up needs a pull-up bar, and Close Grip Chin Up needs a pull-up bar.
Which is easier to start with?
Close Grip Chin Up is the easier place to start. Move to Pull Up once your form holds up.
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