That is partially true. V taper is the lat to stomach ratio so even a BB with wide midsection can have a v taper with well developed(wide) lats.
Nick Walker has a very blocky physique/midsection but still maintains a nice taper due to his lat width.
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Let me throw in my 2 cents from a different angle: Trying to achieve a V taper is majoring on a minor. Building all of your muscles to their maximum, providing you are relatively lean, will achieve YOUR best physique.
IMO, spot development is challenging and many times an elusive achievement. More muscle everywhere ALWAYS improves symmetry.
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I dont disagree. But he only has a v taper when he’s lean
OP will never look like nick walker. OP looks like OP.
As such, he needs to lean the fuck out.
I thought I’d never really have a V taper because I had a blocky midsection. But once I got lean, I had a V taper that wasn’t just lats.
Just my experience.
Also this
Agree here.
OP already has a slight taper he just needs to get wider in the lats.
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If you look at OP’s front double biceps, his greatest lat width problem is his inability to control his scapula to push his lats outward and wider.
Competitive bodybuilding has a component of deception, that is looking better than you are. Many bodybuilders have very little ability to make their muscles pop when they pose. That is, they look larger than they actually are.
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Agree. I think OP has a pretty good base. Def need help displaying it.
Surely it’s OK to train your lats with the goal of making them big, so you look wider?
Off to a great start. Definitely gained a lot of size for your first year of training. I agree that you’re probably ready to lean up at this point as you have enough size now to still look muscular while lean. First figure out how to lean up and then super slow add size. You’re young and your hormone plus recovery should allow it.
Develop the flexibility to be able to squat and deadlift in good form. Learn to squat and deadlift in good form. Belt squats and trap bar deadlifts may be easier and safer for you. Belt squats are one of my favourites. Never train beyond ‘technical failure’.
Train 5/3/1. Avoid junk food. Work out how many macros you need to increase your lean body mass by 10 lbs and work towards that. Let us know how you get on and you can make ‘course corrections’ as you go.
You’ve gotten so much feedback here, more voices will probably just be lost in the shuffle in terms of exercise and routine prescriptions. My advice is more about exercise execution. Just use your best judgment and try to build a good connection with every body part, that’ll be a good indication of how good your form is. Play around with movements to try to achieve a better feel. Generally if it feels harder for the target muscle, it’s usually better for growth. Staying flat(not arching) on Bench, pushing your chest into the pad on chest Supported rows rather than arching up, etc. Good exercise execution will help not only with your development but longevity and starting injury free while training hard year-round.