Smith Machine Barbell Row vs One Arm Lat Pulldown

Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan

Contents

Planfit users log Smith Machine Barbell Row more often — 4,483 sessions vs 499. Compare Back form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Smith Machine Barbell Row and One Arm Lat Pulldown for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Smith Machine Barbell Row vs One Arm Lat Pulldown : 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 499 for One Arm Lat Pulldown.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Smith Machine Barbell Row and One Arm 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 Smith Machine Barbell Row and One Arm Lat Pulldown Differ

What differsSmith Machine Barbell RowOne Arm Lat Pulldown
Machine typeSmith-machinecable-driven
One side at a timeNoYes
Difficulty3 of 55 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users4,483 sessions499 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 One Arm Lat Pulldown

One Arm Lat Pulldown gif

One Arm Lat Pulldown muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. As you gather your shoulder blades, gently pull your arms.
  2. 2. While turning your palms facing your body, pull them up to shoulder height.
  3. 3. Rotate your palms to face forward again and raise your arms.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to strain your shoulders by fully extending your shoulders and arms.
  2. 2. Please be careful not to let your trapezius muscles rise.
  3. 3. Please be careful not to let your elbows move backward.

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Back, Smith Machine Barbell Row or One Arm Lat Pulldown?

Planfit users log Smith Machine Barbell Row more often — 4,483 sessions against 499 for One Arm 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 Smith Machine Barbell Row and One Arm Lat Pulldown need?

Smith Machine Barbell Row needs a machine, and One Arm Lat Pulldown needs a machine.

Which is easier to start with?

Smith Machine Barbell Row is the easier place to start. Move to One Arm Lat Pulldown once your form holds up.

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