Wide Grip Pull Up vs Barbell Row
Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan
Contents
Planfit users log Barbell Row more often — 18,910 sessions vs 72. Compare Back form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Wide Grip Pull Up and Barbell Row for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Wide Grip Pull Up vs Barbell Row : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Barbell Row more often — 18,910 sessions compared to 72 for Wide Grip Pull Up.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Wide Grip Pull Up and Barbell Row differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Wide Grip Pull Up and Barbell Row Differ
| What differs | Wide Grip Pull Up | Barbell Row |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | a pull-up bar | a barbell |
| Difficulty | 2 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 72 sessions | 18,910 sessions |
How to Wide Grip Pull Up
Wide Grip Pull Up muscles worked: Back
Form
- 1. Grab the bar with a wide grip and spread your hands wider than shoulder width.
- 2. Pull your arms to bring your chest close to the bar.
- 3. Slowly extend your arms back to the original position.
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 Wide Grip Pull Up, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Wide Grip Pull Up Guide page of our blog!
How to Barbell Row
Barbell Row muscles worked: Back
Form
- 1. Please pull the barbell towards your belly button so that it can go up vertically.
- 2. While bringing your shoulder blades together, naturally pull your elbows and hands.
- 3. While supporting the weight with your back, lower your hands down to below your knees.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to let your elbows flare out.
- 2. Please be careful not to let your back be too upright or move up and down.
- 3. Engage your core to prevent your back from rounding.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Barbell Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Barbell Row Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Back, Wide Grip Pull Up or Barbell Row?
Planfit users log Barbell Row more often — 18,910 sessions against 72 for Wide 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 Wide Grip Pull Up and Barbell Row need?
Wide Grip Pull Up needs a pull-up bar, and Barbell Row needs a barbell.
Which is easier to start with?
Wide Grip Pull Up is the easier place to start. Move to Barbell Row once your form holds up.
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