Smith Machine Barbell Row vs Close Grip Pull Up

Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan

Contents

Planfit users log Smith Machine Barbell Row more often — 4,483 sessions vs 44. 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 Pull Up for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Smith Machine Barbell Row vs Close Grip Pull 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 44 for Close Grip Pull Up.

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

What differsSmith Machine Barbell RowClose Grip Pull Up
Equipmenta machinea pull-up bar
Difficulty3 of 52 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users4,483 sessions44 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 Pull Up

Close Grip Pull Up gif

Close Grip Pull Up muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. Grab the bar with a narrow grip and spread your hands shoulder-width apart.
  2. 2. Pull your arms to bring your chest close to the bar.
  3. 3. Slowly extend your arms and return to the original 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 Close Grip Pull Up, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Close Grip Pull Up Guide page of our blog!

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Planfit users log Smith Machine Barbell Row more often — 4,483 sessions against 44 for Close Grip Pull 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 Pull Up need?

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

Which is easier to start with?

Close Grip Pull Up is the easier place to start. Move to Smith Machine Barbell Row once your form holds up.

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