Gym Planner

Lats

Chin-Up

Intermediate Bodyweight Compound Lats

How to do it

  1. Grip the bar with palms facing you at about shoulder width.

  2. Hang with straight arms and set the shoulder blades by pulling the shoulders down.

  3. Brace abs and glutes so the torso stays slightly leaned back with an open chest.

  4. Pull until your chin clears the bar while keeping the elbows close to your ribs.

  5. Lower under control for 2-3 seconds to full extension, then repeat without swinging.

Common mistakes

  • Pulling with the biceps only, so the elbows drift forward and the chest never nears the bar.

  • Swinging from the hips to start each rep.

  • Stopping halfway so the muscles never see the full range.

  • Taking too wide a grip, which puts the wrists in an awkward position.

Tips

  • Chin-ups usually feel easier than pull-ups because the biceps help more, so use them to earn your first reps.

  • Rotate with pull-ups every few weeks so both the lats and biceps keep progressing.

Secondary muscles

Alternatives

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