Rope Arm Pulldown vs Pull Up

Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan

Contents

Pull Up works multiple joints at once, Rope Arm Pulldown isolates — difficulty 4 of 5 vs 1. See which fits your Back day.

Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Rope Arm Pulldown and Pull Up for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Rope Arm Pulldown vs Pull 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 2,393 for Rope Arm Pulldown.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Rope Arm Pulldown and Pull Up differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Rope Arm Pulldown and Pull Up Differ

What differsRope Arm PulldownPull Up
Muscles workedback and tricepsback, traps, and biceps
Equipmenta machinea pull-up bar
Difficulty1 of 54 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users2,393 sessions15,437 sessions
Not sure whether Rope Arm Pulldown or Pull Up fits your goal? Get a personalized plan

How to Rope Arm Pulldown

Rope Arm Pulldown gif

Rope Arm Pulldown muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. Squeeze your armpits and pull the rope towards your body.
  2. 2. Slowly raise it back up to shoulder level.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to bend your arm.
  2. 2. Please be careful not to raise your arm higher than your shoulder.
  3. 3. Please be careful not to elevate your trapezius muscle.

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

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

How to Pull Up

Pull Up gif

Pull 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, gently pull your arms back.
  3. 3. Slowly return to the starting position while keeping your chest relaxed.

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 Pull Up, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Pull Up Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Pull Up methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Back, Rope Arm Pulldown or Pull Up?

Planfit users log Pull Up more often — 15,437 sessions against 2,393 for Rope Arm Pulldown. Both train Back, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

Do Rope Arm Pulldown and Pull Up work the same muscles?

Not quite. Rope Arm Pulldown loads back and triceps, and Pull Up loads back, traps, and biceps.

What equipment do Rope Arm Pulldown and Pull Up need?

Rope Arm Pulldown needs a machine, and Pull Up needs a pull-up bar.

Which is easier to start with?

Rope Arm Pulldown is the easier place to start. Move to Pull Up once your form holds up.

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