Furthermore, I think you would be naive to only focus on the ‘basic’ exercises. [/quote]
? naive to focus on the shit that has built the most huge backs in history like dumbbell/barbell rows, t-bar rows, pull downs, pull ups, deads and any other sort of row. How is that “naive”? Also, aside from doing HS rows also, that is pretty much all I did with the exception of deadlifts for most of that time and my back isn’t exactly one of the small ones here.
What I was getting at was newbs thinking that a “rack pull” or a “kroc row” somehow needs to be top focus at the expense of the basics that have been around for decades. Doing the newest shit doesn’t mean the best results. Your work ethic is most important.[/quote]
Not really understanding your post.
You say that you built your back with HS rows and you are saying someone should focus on the basics? [/quote]
x2
prolly means someone not wanting a back as big as rockell should focus on the basics
Furthermore, I think you would be naive to only focus on the ‘basic’ exercises. [/quote]
? naive to focus on the shit that has built the most huge backs in history like dumbbell/barbell rows, t-bar rows, pull downs, pull ups, deads and any other sort of row. How is that “naive”? Also, aside from doing HS rows also, that is pretty much all I did with the exception of deadlifts for most of that time and my back isn’t exactly one of the small ones here.
What I was getting at was newbs thinking that a “rack pull” or a “kroc row” somehow needs to be top focus at the expense of the basics that have been around for decades. Doing the newest shit doesn’t mean the best results. Your work ethic is most important.[/quote]
Not really understanding your post.
You say that you built your back with HS rows and you are saying someone should focus on the basics? [/quote]
I am saying someone new to training should learn the basics. I’m not a newb. I didn’t start using HS machines until almost 5 or more years into my training. I have also written all of this many times before. When I started, my routine was mostly T-bar rows, lat pull downs, pull ups, dumbbell rows and high cable rows.
Ok, maybe I’m weird but I got tremendous (well, relatively speaking) width and depth (thickness) development on basic barbell rows (not Yates rows, but torso-parallel barbell rows).
Each rep I would focus on squeezing my lats hard to bring my elbows close to my body, especially at the top. I think this is the key; most people put body English into it, bring the bar up and then let it go ASAP almost like some sort of horizontal power clean.
This was actually the exercise I used to build the MMC to my lats.
So basically what I’m saying is that as you get better, you get more out of any exercise. I’m sure some advanced guys can do a basic BB row, a few sets of (weighted) chins and maybe some DB rows and call it a day. Well, ok, maybe a set or 5 of shrugs too.
[quote]Samir wrote:
Ok, maybe I’m weird but I got tremendous (well, relatively speaking) width and depth (thickness) development on basic barbell rows (not Yates rows, but torso-parallel barbell rows).
Each rep I would focus on squeezing my lats hard to bring my elbows close to my body, especially at the top. I think this is the key; most people put body English into it, bring the bar up and then let it go ASAP almost like some sort of horizontal power clean.
This was actually the exercise I used to build the MMC to my lats.
So basically what I’m saying is that as you get better, you get more out of any exercise. I’m sure some advanced guys can do a basic BB row, a few sets of (weighted) chins and maybe some DB rows and call it a day. Well, ok, maybe a set or 5 of shrugs too.
[/quote]
Around 4 years ago, I would do a bunch of sets of barbell rows with usually 125-175 lbs (My shitty bar weighed 35 lbs lol), like 4-5 working sets with usually 10-20 reps. I didn’t do them really strict, I just did a lot of them, and stopped when my grip gave out (no straps back then). I also did lots of pullups, and a good deal of dumbbell rows. That was it for back, well plus deadlifts of course. My width was lacking somewhat, but I feel like that right there was why I developed a good MMC with my rhomboids early on. Lats needed some more bringing up as time went on, as they’re very hard to work effectively without cables/machines for most people. Also, I didn’t know about rack chins at the time.
I guess my point is, do what’s available for you; if you’re not sure if there’s more options based on what you’ve got at your disposal, ASK! And for heaven’s sake, be receptive to advice, and don’t act like you’re above the advice of guys bigger, stronger and more advanced than you are (thinking of a few specific posters of late). That kind of attitude will get you nowhere.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
You sound like someone mentioning certain exercises just because that’s what’s “hawt” right now. The basics built the most huge backs, not “Kroc Rows”.
The only thing that will add “width” is adding a lot of muscle to your back, including your lats and traps and rhomboids in priority.
[/quote]
There have been a lot of posts after this. Why? Everything that was needed to be said was said here.
The good professor sounds like a broken record sometimes. Why do you suppose that is? (because the answer doesn’t change with time)
The OP really is curious about things that simply do not matter, but I understand why. What made it funny is people respond with the secret voodoo crap… From what he wrote I can tell he knows that a muscled will not grow wider with one exercise and taller with another and thicker with a third and peakier with another.
OP, pull something toward you vertically and horizontally. Different varieties of this will be sufficient. Do it progressively heavier and relatively frequent.
