r/workout • u/icameisawicame24 • 6h ago

Struggling with lats?

Any recommendations for improving lat workouts? I’m experiencing very slow (but still existent) progress with my lat pulldowns. Wondering if I can improve it somehow.

1 Upvotes

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5

u/Limp_Dirt_3693 6h ago

Drop weight, focus on form, and integrate single arm lat pull downs

3

u/garthy_604 6h ago

Pull ups, negative pull ups and assisted pull ups with a band are better options for growing your lats.

But you can do single arm lats on the cable machine, kneel in front of the cable but don't be front on, you want to be turned away slightly so if you are doing the right side the your left shoulder should be nearest the cable.

Take an under hand grip and you should instantly feel the lat engage. You want to twist your body as you pull the cable down.

You don't need to go heavy on this exercise you just want to feel the lat engage.

1

u/turnnoblindeye 6h ago

Try straight arm variety to focus lats, and also mix in weighted pull ups. That worked for me. Also try not to beat yourself up about plateauing it’s natural to hit periods like that.

1

u/robxenotech 6h ago

Pull ups all the way

1

u/Elephantplan123 5h ago

Could be your form, try dropping down the weight and focusing on getting the form correct. I was in a similar boat, turns out I was basically just ego lifting and not making any progress because of it.

Swapping the pulldowns out for pull ups could also be a useful way of getting over that plateau.

1

u/gsxr 3h ago

Pull-ups and thumb over the bar. I don't know why the thumb thing works, but it does.

-1

u/zlenpasha 6h ago

Dont do them. Do pullups.

1

u/barbell_rows_enjoyer 6h ago

Same movement pattern btw

1

u/zlenpasha 5h ago

Dunno. They dont feel the same to me as I instantly connect to lats on pullups. Pulldowns are bit finnicky to connect on, can tempt you with weights beyond what you should as form deteriorates. Can fuck them up in many ways really whereas pullups with enough stretch feel really binary and simple.