Whenever I do pull ups I unintentionally move by whole body forwards, so when I reach the top of the pull-up I'm at a 30 degree angle rather than just being totally straight below the bar. (back is still straight). It's not kipping or helping with momentum or anything, I just end up there unintentionally. I imagine I'm using the wrong muscles or something, anyone know about this?
I was there too. I still can't do perfect pull ups but i've drastically improved. Keep doing it. Also try hanging from the bar and tucking your knees as high as you can and hold it. Pike pushups also helped. Other shoulder and lat exercises will help too. Just keep doing the pullups and eventually your form will improve.
That's normal. It's your body putting yourself in a better mechanical position. Your body is adjusting in order to recruit more muscles along the mid back by trying to turn the exercise into a rowing movement.
If you want a straight up and down position try pullups on a door, or even pullups using the pullup machine.
Alan
weak back, you're pulling more with your arms
It's just physics. Balance point.
asdasd wrote:
weak back, you're pulling more with your arms
That's good advice that specifically addresses how to fix the problem. Or on the other hand, is no help whatsoever.
It's not a problem. it's balance point. At the top of the pull-up the bar is in front of your chest. so much of your trunk is behind the bar and your legs need to be in front of the bar. Unless you are applying considerable torque to the bar that is how you hang.
Thanks everyone. So would these be considered valid pull-ups, and I should just continue with these?
In general, I find it hard to work my back - once a week I have a dedicated back session, with lat pulldowns, pullups (sometimes assisted), and seated rows, focussing on just using my arms as "levers", and "flaring" my lats, if that makes sense. I still don't feel much burn in my back, and usually end up fatiguing my arms rather than back.
Is this just a beginner thing that will resolve, or is there something I should do to fix it?
Consult a CrossFit board for tips on how to properly do pull-ups...this is LetsRUN...
Hi Bartholomew Maxwell!
You're a dick. This is evidenced not just by this post, but a long, long, long, long history of many, many, many, many posts that speak to your dickishness. Unfortunately, we will have to be subjected to yet more of these posts for the next few weeks due to a COVID-19 lockdown. God help us all.
Thanks for your input!
Try behing the neck pull ups, this exercise requires quite a bit of shoulder flexibility but it works much more your back muscles. If you feel any shoulder pain, just quit
Do you keep your legs straight down?
I do it at home on a pull-up bar clipped on the door frame, which is not high enough to do it with straight legs. I have to bend the knee and cross the ankles. (I believe this is also acceptable pull-up postures). This way, the center of gravity is off behind your hip, and keep the body somewhat more straight. Initially, before I got used to doing many reps, I have to look up, and the torso somewhat bent backward.
HM guy wrote:
Hi Bartholomew Maxwell!
You're a dick. This is evidenced not just by this post, but a long, long, long, long history of many, many, many, many posts that speak to your dickishness. Unfortunately, we will have to be subjected to yet more of these posts for the next few weeks due to a COVID-19 lockdown. God help us all.
Thanks for your input!
Jesus gave us mercy and grace at the cross. Our God is an awesome god, he reigns from heaven above. With wisdom, power and love.
Thanks, this could help a lot - I do them with my legs straight down, and at a gym (i.e not in a door). Now that COVID-19 has closed the gyms, I'll buy a pull-up bar for the door and do them with my legs crossed, perhaps with looking at the bar.