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Exercise Guide
How to do ring suspended row
Master the setup, range of motion, and tempo for safer, more effective reps.
The ring suspended row is a challenging bodyweight exercise that builds incredible back strength and core stability. Because the rings are unstable, your stabilizing muscles must work overtime to maintain balance. This movement targets the rhomboids, latissimus dorsi, and rear deltoids while allowing for a natural range of motion in the wrists, making it easier on the joints compared to fixed-bar variations.
Stats
TIER
3
DIFFICULTY
Untrained to Advanced
EQUIPMENT
Rings
TARGET MUSCLES
Back, Biceps, Rear Shoulder
Instructions for Proper Form
Setup:
- Ring Height: Adjust the rings so they are suspended at a challenging but achievable height for you. This will usually be somewhere between your knees and hips when your arms are extended.
- Starting Position: Hold the rings with a neutral grip (palms facing each other) and lean back until your body forms a straight line from head to heels, arms fully extended. Keep your feet together and heels on the ground.
The Lift:
- Initiate the Pull: Pull your body up towards the rings by driving your elbows back and down. Keep your body straight and core engaged.
- Chest to Rings (Optional): Pull your chest up as close to the rings as possible while maintaining proper form.
- Controlled Lowering: Slowly lower yourself back down to the starting position, resisting the pull of gravity and maintaining tension in your back muscles.
Tips:
- Focus on the Back: Concentrate on using your latissimus dorsi (the large muscles on your back) to pull your body up, rather than relying on your arms.
- Elbow Position: Keep your elbows close to your body and pointing down towards your hips as you pull up.
- Body Alignment: Maintain a straight line from your shoulders to your heels throughout the movement.
- Variations: You can adjust the difficulty of the exercise by changing the angle of your body. A more vertical position makes the exercise easier, while a more horizontal position makes it more challenging. You can also try a supinated grip (palms facing away) or a wide grip for variation.
Common mistakes: Allowing the hips to sag or pike, not pulling the chest all the way to the rings, and losing shoulder blade retraction.
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