Smith Machine Barbell Row vs Close Grip Chin Up

Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan

Contents

Planfit users log Smith Machine Barbell Row more often — 4,483 sessions vs 345. Compare Back form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Smith Machine Barbell Row and Close Grip Chin Up for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Smith Machine Barbell Row vs Close Grip Chin Up : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Smith Machine Barbell Row more often — 4,483 sessions compared to 345 for Close Grip Chin Up.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Smith Machine Barbell Row 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 Smith Machine Barbell Row and Close Grip Chin Up Differ

What differsSmith Machine Barbell RowClose Grip Chin Up
Equipmenta machinea pull-up bar
Difficulty3 of 53 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users4,483 sessions345 sessions

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How to Smith Machine Barbell Row

Smith Machine Barbell Row gif

Smith Machine Barbell Row muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. Please pull the bar towards your belly button.
  2. 2. While bringing your shoulder blades together, naturally pull your elbows and hands.
  3. 3. Hold the weight with the strength of your back and lower your hands down to below your knees.

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 Smith Machine Barbell Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Smith Machine Barbell Row Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Smith Machine Barbell Row methods?Exercise Guide

How to Close Grip Chin Up

Close Grip Chin Up gif

Close 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. Slowly return to the starting position with your chest relaxed.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to lose your starting position when you come down.
  2. 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!

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Back, Smith Machine Barbell Row or Close Grip Chin Up?

Planfit users log Smith Machine Barbell Row more often — 4,483 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 Smith Machine Barbell Row and Close Grip Chin Up need?

Smith Machine Barbell Row needs a machine, and Close Grip Chin Up needs a pull-up bar.

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