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Exercise Guide
How to do barbell chest supported row
Master the setup, range of motion, and tempo for safer, more effective reps.
The barbell chest supported row is a superior back exercise for isolating the latissimus dorsi and rhomboids without putting excessive strain on the lower back. By lying prone on an inclined bench, you effectively eliminate the use of momentum and leg drive. This ensures that your back muscles do all the work, leading to better muscle contraction and improved postural strength.
Stats
TIER
2
DIFFICULTY
Untrained to Advanced
EQUIPMENT
Barbell, Bench
TARGET MUSCLES
Back, Biceps, Rear Shoulder
Instructions for Proper Form
Setup:
- Incline Bench: Adjust a bench to an incline of approximately 30-45 degrees.
- Barbell Placement: Position the loaded barbell on the floor behind the end of the bench.
- Prone Position: Lie face down on the bench, with your chest on the incline and your legs extended behind you, keeping your feet flat on the floor.
- Grip: Reach down and grasp the barbell with an overhand or underhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
The Lift:
- Initiate the Pull: Engage your lats and core, then pull the barbell up towards your lower chest or abdomen. Keep your elbows close to your body and your back straight.
- Squeeze at the Top: Briefly pause at the top of the movement, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
- Controlled Lowering: Slowly lower the barbell back down to the starting position, maintaining tension in your back muscles.
- Repeat: Perform the desired number of repetitions.
Tips:
- Focus on the Back: Think about using your back muscles to lift the weight, not just your arms.
- Elbow Path: Keep your elbows close to your body as you pull the barbell up.
- Chest Support: Maintain contact between your chest and the bench throughout the movement.
- Variations: Experiment with different grip widths (wider or narrower) to target different muscles in your back. You can also try using an EZ-curl bar or dumbbells for variety.
Common mistakes: Lifting the chest off the support pad, using momentum to jerk the weight, and shrugging the shoulders upward instead of pulling back.
Alternatives
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Row Cable
cable seated one arm row
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Pull Up Bar
chin up
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Lat Pulldown
lat pulldown behind the neck
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Dumbbell
dumbbell bent over row
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Pull Up Bar
chin ups narrow parallel grip
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Pull Up Bar
pull up
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Lat Pulldown
cable one arm lat pulldown
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Pull Up Bar
close grip chin up
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Lat Pulldown
lat pulldown
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Row Cable
cable seated row
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Barbell
barbell bent over row
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Cable
cable straigth arm pulldown(rope)
BackRear Shoulder
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cable straight arm pulldown(bar)
BackRear Shoulder
Barbell
barbell underhand bent over row
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Lat Pulldown
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Bench
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Front Pulldown
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Dumbbell
dumbbell one arm row(with support)
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Barbell
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Barbell
t-bar row(v-grip)
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Landmine
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Lat Pulldown
cable wide grip behind neck pulldown
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Low Row Machine
machine low row
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Barbell
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Pulldown Machine
machine lateral pulldown
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Lat Pulldown
lat pulldown reverse close grip
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High Row Machine
machine high row
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Row Cable
cable low seated row
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Seated Row Machine
machine seated row
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Cable
cable pulldown(v-bar)
BackRear Shoulder
None
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None
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Row Cable
cable seated row(rope)
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Rings
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Squat Rack
inverted row bend knees
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Kettlebell
kettlebell bent over row
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Rings
ring suspended row
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Dumbbell
dumbbell pull over
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Resistance Band
band seated row
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Rowing Machine
rowing on rowing machine
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