Training Tip 150 (*)
Working the Lats and Back Mobster Style
(* cos I missed numbering a few
)
NB: as always I'm far more of a strength guy than a Bodybuilder but info goes both ways. So, who knows, maybe I can offer something
I have a broad back. In the occasional pic of me out trail walking taken by my girlfriend they'll be a shot from the back. As often as not I can see my lats. Even with my ever thickening waist the back shows through.
Now I like, for the most part, to move some weight around. But one of my tricks / tips, is I haven't done the same back workout in a row in years. Combined with rotating back exercises in my home gym I have access to a number of different back machines and kit at my local gym. I can also, as can you, vary hand spacings and change handles for the pulley versions.
I usually do ONE movement per session when back is worked but it is worked 2x a week (with bench). I'd recommend bodybuilders / those looking to shape and add muscle to do 2-3 movements per session.
Here's a few I do (off the top of my head):
One arm dumbbell rows (usually to 90kg/198lbs for reps but sometimes more) - 1 or 2 sets
Lat Pulldowns - narrow, medium and wide (one width per session worked - to the whole stack)
Low Cable Rows - as above. In fact on both of these I can add weight via a GymPin(tm)
Iso Lever Pulldowns (4 and a half plates)
Iso Lever Mid-Row (5 plates or 100kg/220lbs for reps)
Iso Lever Low Row (to 140+ kilos 308+lbs)
Pullover Machine(stack + weight)
Then you can also add in Chins (front or behind) as well as Pull Ups (different grip etc)
T-Bar Rows I don't like these as I find too much stress on my lower back but you might prefer them)
Bent Over Row (I've done the chest supported version to 3 plates a side x 3 sets)
With different handles and widths rotated over several sessions you've 30+ movements or versions of to play with.
Now with my aim the earlier (less than max sets) will be relatively strict. The top weight less so (looser). There IS, of course, SOME carryover regardless with a stronger muscle USUALLY being bigger. But as most of you train for muscle the following is a tip:
Work on, as best you can, flexing the muscle. Now you can work to using, at best, a medium weight where you move the arm kinda slow and smooth and almost flexing it through out. That WILL FUCK YOUR MUSCLE UP. But it's real difficult to master and keep doing. So something I'll do with my 'lighter' sets is good form but kinda flexing the muscle in the hardest position.
Take the Iso Lever Low Row. One arm at a time. Warm ups for me are: no weight x 20 reps, 60kg/132lbs x 8 reps, 100kg/220lbs x 8 reps, 140kg/308lbs x 4-8 reps. The 100kg is where I can pull the weight in, twist oh so slightly down and back with the work arm pulled in and feel the lat muscle where it attaches to the ribs. Heck, I can do it sitting here at my desk.
You can also, more so once you've got some blood in there and are WORKING (you know what I mean), stretch. The key there is to feel the muscle stretch but not do what is often called a partial dislocation. In other words the shoulder stays in line rather than is allowed to pull or drop forward. That habit will, over time, cause issues. Learn how to do it right and you'll stretch right and stretch the fascia (the membrane around the muscle) and make room for more blood to pump it.
With many of the Iso Lever type machines another tip is to move the seat height around. On the exercise above if I had the seat down low the top of the handle could be at neck height. Vs seat high and handle a little above my waist. One or two stops / seat position differences can slightly emphasize a new area.
Final tip (there are others for back) is get your damn chest UP. With most back movements - for lats if not for all back muscles - the chest UP position encourages an arch between the mid rib spot to the mid point of your traps, shoulders/delts will be back and you'll get a better contraction. Prove it to yourself by trying a row with and without.