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Exercise Guide

How to do close grip chin up

Master the setup, range of motion, and tempo for safer, more effective reps.

The close grip chin up is a fundamental bodyweight exercise that primarily targets the latissimus dorsi and the biceps. By bringing your hands closer together and using an underhand grip, you place a significant emphasis on the arms and the lower lats. This movement is essential for developing functional upper body strength, enhancing pulling power, and creating a well-defined V-taper aesthetic in the back.

Stats

TIER
1
DIFFICULTY
Beginner to Advanced
EQUIPMENT
Pull Up Bar
TARGET MUSCLES
Back, Biceps, Rear Shoulder

Instructions for Proper Form

Setup:

  1. Grip the Bar: Find a pull-up bar or sturdy fixture capable of supporting your body weight. Grab the bar with an underhand grip (palms facing you), hands close together, almost touching.
  2. Starting Position: Hang freely from the bar with your arms fully extended. Keep your shoulders engaged and your core tight.

The Lift:

  1. Pull Upward: Initiate the movement by pulling your chest up towards the bar. Lead with your elbows, keeping them close to your body.
  2. Chin Over Bar: As your chin reaches over the bar, squeeze your shoulder blades together and focus on contracting your biceps.
  3. Controlled Lowering: Slowly lower yourself back down to the starting position, resisting the urge to drop or relax at the bottom.

Tips:

  • Focus on the Biceps: The close grip emphasizes the biceps brachii more than wider grips. Concentrate on the feeling of your biceps contracting throughout the movement.
  • Maintain Tension: Keep your muscles engaged throughout the entire movement, avoiding any relaxation at the top or bottom of the rep.
  • Slow and Controlled: Avoid using momentum to swing yourself up. Focus on slow, controlled repetitions.

Common mistakes: Not reaching a full extension at the bottom and using the legs to kick for momentum.

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