Target Muscle

    Lats

    Equipment

    Body Weight

    Difficulty

    Advanced

    Category

    Strength

    Wide Grip Pullup

    The wide grip pullup is a bodyweight exercise targeting the latissimus dorsi (lats) with significant involvement of the bicep and forearms. It requires hanging from a pullup bar with a grip wider than shoulder-width, pulling the chin above the bar, and lowering back down with control.

    Also Works

    BicepsForearms

    How to Perform

    1. 1

      Hang from a pullup bar with your palms facing away from you and your hands wider than shoulder-width apart.

    2. 2

      Engage your core and squeeze your shoulder blades together.

    3. 3

      Pull your body up towards the bar until your chin is above the bar.

    4. 4

      Lower your body back down to the starting position with control.

    5. 5

      Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Pro Tips

    • Grip the bar with hands roughly 1.5 times shoulder width, thumbs over the bar (false grip) or wrapped around depending on comfort.
    • Drive your elbows down and toward your hips to engage the lats rather than pulling with the biceps.
    • Clear the bar with your chin at the top and lower until your arms are fully extended at the bottom for complete reps.

    Common Mistakes

    • Going so wide that range of motion is severely limited and the shoulders take over from the lats.
    • Using a kipping or swinging motion to get the chin over the bar instead of pulling with strict form.
    • Performing half reps by not fully extending the arms at the bottom, which limits lat stretch and growth.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Related Articles

    Master The Wide Grip Pullup with Forge

    Get personalized coaching, form feedback, and workout plans featuring Wide Grip Pullup and other exercises tailored to your goals.

    Join the Waitlist