7 Steps How To Do A Pull Up Exercise Like A Pro
Step 1: Prep Your Muscles
You need to learn to use your muscles efficiently without hurting yourself, and by exerting the maximum strength. For this, you need to prep your body by doing the exercises listed below.
Incline dumbbell curls – 3 sets of 10 reps Reverse preacher curl – 3 sets of 10 reps Standing barbell curl – 3 sets of 10 reps Elbows out rows – 2 sets of 10 reps Batwings – 2 sets of 10 reps Forward elbow plank – 25-30-second hold
Take a 3-minute break between the sets. Do this twice a week.
Step 2: Prep Your Body And Mind
Pull-ups basically involve lifting your own weight against gravity. Tough! And that’s the reason the more weight you lose, the easier it will be for you to do a pull-up. So, to make your pull-up easier, you need to shed some fat. Start by talking to your gym trainer and a nutritionist, who will give you a customized diet chart and exercise plan. Moreover, you can also train your mind to build a strong willpower so that you do not deviate from your weight loss goals or perfecting a pull-up goal.
Step 3: Avoid The Common Problems
Eye Position – Looking at the bar when you do a pull-up can push you away from the bar and prevent you from doing a pull-up. Start – The most common problem when you start a pull-up is not engaging your lat muscles. The lat muscles are found below the shoulders till the sides of your back. Middle – When you are halfway through the pull-up, you would still need to engage your back, shoulders, chest, elbows, and arms to pull the weight of your body. Not having enough strength to do that can also hinder your pull-up. Finish – Even if you start the pull-up right, not finishing it well can keep you from perfecting it. The most common reasons for not being able to finish it properly are the lack of elbow drive and strength.
Step 4: Know The Difference Between Pull-Ups And Chin-Ups
Though both are similar, the difference lies in the positioning of your palms on the bar. Chin-ups are basically pulling your body up by placing your palms towards you and hands at shoulder-width distance. They are easier as compared to pull-ups. On the other hand, to do a pull-up your palms need to be facing away from you, and the hands placed at a wider distance. It is tougher than a chin-up as the shoulder muscles are internally rotated, and your lat muscles need to generate enough force to help you bring your elbows near your ribs and pull your weight against gravity.
Step 5: Do The Chin up Exercises
Now, before you actually go to a gym and train to master a pull-up, you should do pre-pull-up exercises to build strength. Here are a few exercises you can focus on. Do them every alternate day if you are not much into strength training.
1. Australian Pull-Up
Position yourself underneath a waist-high bar. Hold the bar with your hands placed a bit wider than the shoulder width, and the palms facing away from you. Keep your back and legs straight. Initially, you can keep your legs on an elevated surface or fold them. Later, you can just keep your heels on the ground. Flex your elbows and pull your body up until the bar is an inch away from your body. Hold for 1 second and then slowly lower your body back to the starting position. Do 2 sets of 10 reps.
2. Bar Hang
Find an overhead bar and position yourself underneath it. Place your feet shoulder-width apart and keep your back straight. Hold the bar with the palms facing away from you, hands a bit more apart than the regular shoulder-width. Lift your legs off the ground and count to 5. Place your legs back on the ground and count to 5. Do this until you can keep hanging for 15-20 seconds continuously. You can also make this simple exercise challenging by changing your grip (over, under, and mixed) and by pressing and relaxing your grip when you hang from the bar.
3. Flexed Arm Hang
Find a waist-high bar and position yourself underneath it. Keep your back and legs straight, Use an elevated surface to rest your heels. Hold the bar. Your palms must be facing away, and hands shoulder-width apart. Lift your body by flexing your elbows. Stop when your chin is above the bar. Hold this position and count to 5. Slowly go back to the starting position. Do 2 sets of 10 reps. Increase the time gradually to 15-20 seconds over a period of few weeks.
4. Slow Reverse Pull-Up
Find an overhead bar and position yourself underneath it. Keep your back straight and legs shoulder-width apart. Hold the bar and pull yourself up till your chin reaches just above the bar. This is your starting position. Now, slowly lower your body. Your feet should not touch the ground, and your arms should be extended. Hold this position for 5 seconds. Do this 1 set of 10 reps Gradually increase the sets and the hold time.
5. Chin-Up
Stand underneath an overhead bar and hold it with your undergrip, i.e., the palms facing you. Engage your lats and pull yourself up until your chin reaches just above the bar. While doing this, do not keep looking at the bar. Look far away and concentrate on pulling your body up. Slowly lower your body and relax for 10 seconds. Repeat the steps. Do 2 sets of 10 reps.
Do these five exercises for 4-5 weeks to do your first close-to-perfection pull-up easily. What’s next? Let’s find out.
Step 6: Perfect The Pull-Up
How To Do A Pull-Up Correctly
Grab an overhead bar. Your palms must face away from you and hands must be just a little further apart than the shoulder-width. Engage your lats, tighten your abs, push your shoulder blades back, and clench your glutes (hip muscles). Look straight and flex your elbows. Lift your legs off the ground and pull-up your body until your chin reaches just above the bar. Make sure not to swing. Pause for a second and then slowly lower your body back to the starting position. Take a one-minute break and do one more pull-up. After a few days, when you have mastered one pull-up, try doing two pull-ups before taking a break for one minute. After a few more days, do 2 sets of 10 reps and then increase the number to 2 sets of 25 reps.
The amount of pre-training you have done will help you to do your first pull-up with ease. But, building upper body strength through pull-ups will take a while. So, practice and maintain good posture to prevent injuries. You can mix your pull-ups with other exercises to keep it fun and motivating. Here’s an exercise routine you can follow. Take a look.
Perfecting A Pull-Up Exercise Routine
Monday: Push-ups, sit-ups, bar hang, flexed arm hang, chin-ups – 2-3 sets of 10 reps Tuesday: Weighted lunges, weighted squats, incline dumbbell curls, barbell curls, elbows out rows, forward elbow plank – 2 -3 sets of 10 reps Wednesday: Chin-ups, pull-ups – 3 sets of 10 reps Thursday: Rest Friday: Bar hang, barbell curls, reverse preacher curl, chin-ups – 2-3 sets of 10 reps Saturday: Forward elbow plank, elbows out rows, pull-ups – 3 sets of 10 reps Sunday: Rest Once you can do 20-25 pull-ups in one go, there’s just the last door to unlock. And that’s doing different types of pull-ups. So, don’t be shy, push yourself to achieve the best of your muscle power and strength.
Step 7: Advanced Pull-Up Exercises
1. Kipping Pull-Up
The kipping pull-up is way more challenging than the classic pull-up. You need to engage your back and hips while doing this pull-up. Here’s how you should do it.
Grab an overhead bar with your palms facing away from you, and hands slightly apart than the shoulder-width. Keep your back and hips engaged. Use your shoulders and legs to swing your lower body to and fro once. Swing your legs back, and when you swing forward, flex your knees and use your the power of your lat muscles, biceps, and elbows to lift your body, with the chin above the bar. Lower your body and drop down. Take a break of 10 seconds and repeat. Increase the sets and reps as you become more comfortable with this pull-up.
Doing the kipping pull-up will build stamina and power in all the important back muscles.
2. Close Grip Chin Pull-Up
This is similar to the classic pull-up, the only difference being that your hands will be shoulder-width apart. Here are the steps.
Grab an overhead bar with the palms facing away from you, and hands shoulder-width apart. Engage your lats, tighten your abs, push your shoulder blades back, and clench your glutes (hip muscles). Look straight and flex your elbows. Lift your legs off the ground, and pull up your body until your chin reaches just above the bar. Make sure not to swing. Pause for a second and then slowly lower your body to the starting position. Take a 10-second break and do one more pull-up. Increase the sets and reps as you become more comfortable with this pull-up.
This exercise fully involves your biceps and, in the bargain, puts less weight on your back. This makes this pull-up technique comparatively easier to do.
3. Tarzan/Climber Pull-Up
This is an amazing pull-up exercise with a twist. Let’s find out how you should do it.
Grab an overhead bar. Keep your palms facing away from you, and hands slightly wider than shoulder-width. Engage your lats, glutes, biceps, and elbows. Pull your body up till your chin reaches slightly above the bar. Swing to your right and aim your chin towards your right hand. Hold for one second and lower yourself. Pull up and swing to your left and lower yourself. This completes one rep. Do 1 set of 5 reps initially and then increase the number of sets and reps.
Greater coordination is required even as you pull yourself up to the right and then to the left. It also creates a strong core to prevent your body from swaying.
4. Alternating Knee Twist Pull-Up
Challenging but highly effective, the alternating knee twist pull-up acts on your core, legs, back, shoulders, and arms. Here’s how you should do it.
Grab hold of an overhead bar. Your palms should be facing away from you, and hands shoulder-width apart. Pull up and flex both your knees. Raise the knees together and as you do so, slightly twist to the right. Now, release and do the same to the left. Do 1 set of 10 reps. Increase the sets and reps as you become more comfortable with doing 1 set of 10 reps.
Your entire core is worked out while doing this kind of pull-up routine. It puts effective stress on your abs and forces your muscles to hold you up while you twist.
5. Raised Leg Pull-Up
The raised leg pull-up is similar to the alternating knee twist pull-up. It acts on your glutes, core, shoulders, arms, and lats. Here are the steps.
Grab hold of an overhead bar. Keep your palms facing away from you, and your hands slightly wider apart than shoulder-width. Pull up and make sure your chin is just above the bar. Raise both your legs until they are parallel with the floor. Do not bend your knees. Hold for a second and then release. Do 1 set of 10 reps. Increase the sets and reps as you become more comfortable with doing 1 set of 10 reps.
This pull-up bar exercise will work your abs and slow down with each repetition, forcing your back muscles to hold you up for longer durations.
6. Weighted Pull-Up
Tough but totally possible. Fitness experts swear by weighted pull-ups. When you become more confident about your fitness levels, you should try the weighted pull-up. Here’s how to do it.
Use a weight belt and start by using the lightest weight plate. Arch your back a bit so that the weight belt doesn’t slip down. Grab an overhead bar. Keep your arms apart, slightly wider than shoulder-width, with the palms facing away, knees flexed, and legs crossed. Now, inhale and pull up. Come down, keep your arms extended and again pull up. Release and come down. Take a 10-20-second break and repeat. Do 5 sets of 2 reps. Increase the sets and reps as you become more comfortable doing 5 sets of 2 reps.
If you have been doing the classic pull-up without much difficulty, the added weights will coerce your muscles into growing bigger and stronger.
7. Towel Grip Pull-Up
The towel grip pull-up is for those who have a problem gripping the bar or want to go rock climbing. Here’s how you should do it.
Put two towels on the pull-up bar slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Hold the towels and lift your feet off the ground. Flex your knees and cross your legs. Hang for one second and then pull up. Come down and release the towel. Do this 10 times. Increase the reps and sets as you become more comfortable.
Holding on to the towel helps build grip strength and forearm muscle power. It also strengthens the entire upper back and biceps.
8. Negative Pull-Up
Just the opposite of the classic pull-up, the negative pull-up can easily be done if you are an expert in doing the classic pull-up. Here’s how you should do it.
Keep a sturdy box just below the pull-up bar. Stand on this elevated surface so that the pull-up bar is much closer. Hold the bar and hop up. Your chin must be just above the bar, knees flexed, and legs crossed. It will not take much strength as you will be on an elevated surface. Slowly lower your body until your arms are fully extended. Release the bar and take a break of 10 seconds. Repeat this 10 times to complete a set.
If you are a beginner and find doing the classic pull-up close to impossible, try this method. It will allow you to tire your muscles totally and build stamina.
9. Hanging Reverse Shoulder Shrugs
Hanging reverse shoulder shrugs are a bit difficult to do, although they may seem simple and easy to do. Here’s how you should do them.
Hold the pull-up bar with your palms facing towards you, hands shoulder-width apart. Lift your feet off the ground, bend your knees, and cross your legs behind. Keep your arms extended and hang from the pull-up bar. Now, drag your shoulders down towards your imaginary back pockets. As you do this, you will have to pull your body up a bit, but not more than an inch. Hold for a second and then again go back to the hanging position. Do this 5 times. Increase the reps as you become more comfortable with this exercise.
It will strengthen your shoulder blades, lats, biceps, and forearms.
10. Band Assisted Pull-Up
In this pull-up, you will use a resistance band to make your pull-up a little easier. However, it will not do the pull-up for you. Let’s find out how you should do it.
Hook a resistance band on the pull-up bar. Hold the pull-up bar with your arms slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. With the help of your coach or gym partner, put one foot on the resistance band. Put the other foot on the foot that is on the resistance band to secure the resistance band. Now, pull up, with your chin slightly above the bar, and legs straight. Come down to the starting position. Do 1 set of 5 reps. Increase the number of sets and reps as you become more comfortable doing this exercise.
It will make the initial learning of how to do a pull-up much easier and help build your upper body strength. So, these were the 7 steps to master the pull-up and pull-up variations. Many people injure themselves while doing a pull-up, so take a look at these tips to avoid injury.
Train with a coach. Take rest for at least two days in a week initially. Use proper technique. Add weight gradually to your training. Add more weight to build more strength. Always warm up. Practice deadlifts to make your pull-ups easier.
Here are a few questions that we often get from clients and readers. Take a look. Will I start looking like a man if I do pull-ups regularly? The following infographic provides information about the various benefits of pull-up exercises. Check it out! No, you will not. Men have higher testosterone levels than women, which makes all the difference. In fact, pull-ups will help you get an hourglass figure that will make the men go crazy! How long should I train to perfect a pull-up? Depends on your body weight, adherence, practice, and coach. It can take anywhere between 6 months to 12 months. Do I have to lose weight to do a pull-up? If you lose weight, it will be easier for you to lift your body weight against gravity. You will also look more toned. Will it cause back injury? If you have or had a back injury, talk to your doctor and trainer before you start training. Use proper technique to avoid back injury. Why are pull-ups so difficult? Pull-ups require you to lift your entire body with just your shoulders and arms. Beginners or individuals with little or no upper body strength may face difficulties in the beginning. However, practicing regularly will make it easier for you to do them. Do pull-ups increase height? No, pull-ups don’t directly contribute to increasing one’s height. However, they can improve your body posture and make you appear leaner and taller. Do pull-ups give you big arms? Certain pull-up variations like chin-ups and slow reverse pull-ups can train your biceps, thus making your arms more muscular and bigger. So, girls, no more shying away from some badass strength training exercises. Get the right coach today and start training. If not now, when? Good luck!
