Back to Library

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:

  1. Incline Bench: Adjust a bench to an incline of approximately 30-45 degrees.
  2. Barbell Placement: Position the loaded barbell on the floor behind the end of the bench.
  3. 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.
  4. Grip: Reach down and grasp the barbell with an overhand or underhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.

The Lift:

  1. 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.
  2. Squeeze at the Top: Briefly pause at the top of the movement, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
  3. Controlled Lowering: Slowly lower the barbell back down to the starting position, maintaining tension in your back muscles.
  4. 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

Cable

lat prayer

Back
Pull Up Bar

chin up

BackBiceps+1
Lat Pulldown

lat pulldown(wide bar)

BackBiceps+1
Row Cable

cable seated one arm row

BackBiceps+1
Pull Up Bar

chin up

BackBiceps+1
Lat Pulldown

lat pulldown behind the neck

BackBiceps+1
Dumbbell

dumbbell bent over row

BackBiceps+1
Pull Up Bar

chin ups narrow parallel grip

BackBiceps+1
Pull Up Bar

pull up

BackBiceps+1
Lat Pulldown

cable one arm lat pulldown

BackBiceps+1
Pull Up Bar

close grip chin up

BackBiceps+1
Lat Pulldown

lat pulldown

BackBiceps+1
Row Cable

cable seated row

BackBiceps+1
Barbell

barbell bent over row

BackBiceps+1
Cable

cable straigth arm pulldown(rope)

BackRear Shoulder
Cable

cable straight arm pulldown(bar)

BackRear Shoulder
Barbell

barbell underhand bent over row

BackBiceps
Lat Pulldown

cable seated high row(v-bar)

BackBiceps+1
Bench

dumbbell chest supported row

BackBiceps+1
Front Pulldown

machine front pulldown

BackBiceps+1
Dumbbell

dumbbell one arm row(with support)

BackBiceps+1
Barbell

barbell chest supported row

BackBiceps+1
Barbell

t-bar row(v-grip)

BackBiceps+1
Landmine

t-bar row

BackBiceps+1
Lat Pulldown

cable wide grip behind neck pulldown

BackBiceps+1
Low Row Machine

machine low row

BackBiceps+1
Barbell

barbell reverse grip supported row

BackBiceps+1
Pulldown Machine

machine lateral pulldown

BackBiceps+1
Lat Pulldown

lat pulldown reverse close grip

BackBiceps+1
High Row Machine

machine high row

BackBiceps+1
Row Cable

cable low seated row

BackBiceps+1
Seated Row Machine

machine seated row

BackBiceps+1
Cable

cable pulldown(v-bar)

BackRear Shoulder
None

sliding floor pulldown on towel

BackBiceps
None

superman row with towel

BackBiceps
Row Cable

cable seated row(rope)

BackBiceps+1
Rings

ring high suspended row

BackBiceps+1
Squat Rack

inverted row bend knees

BackRear Shoulder+1
Kettlebell

kettlebell bent over row

BackBiceps+1
Rings

ring suspended row

BackBiceps+1
Dumbbell

dumbbell pull over

BackChest+2
Resistance Band

band seated row

BackBiceps+1
Rowing Machine

rowing on rowing machine

BackQuads+2