Bent Over Rows

DarkLord · 18-Jul-05, 05:07 AM

I'm not sure, but I think bent over rows count as a power exercise. Anyway my question is....should I treat the bent over row as an essential tool due to the fact I'm tall? Also what is the best grip, over or underhand?

**threenorns** · 18-Jul-05, 07:40 AM

BOR are an excellent exercise for the back - to my thinking, it's one of the must-haves. i would think they'd be even more effective for you with your height.

i use an overhand grip because i prefer to target the lats more and biceps less. from doing low seated cable rows with an underhand grip, i believe underhand involves the biceps more but gives you a better ROM if you're using DB (barbells, well, you can only go "so" high).

**Lady C** · 18-Jul-05, 09:08 AM

There is always the reverse grip (one hand over, one hand under). Switch the grip on sets to even out the muscles worked.

BOR is a core exercise. I have heard that wide grip works more of the shoulders where a narrower grip uses more lats.

**cursor** · 18-Jul-05, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkLord

should I treat the bent over row as an essential tool due to the fact I'm tall?

Why do you think that your height might be a factor in determining whether or not this exercise is appropriate for you?

Shamrock · 18-Jul-05, 10:07 AM

People are always amazed at how much weight than can do for B.O.R.'s. Some of the people I've seen start it for the first time have never touched a dumbell that high before!

DarkLord · 18-Jul-05, 12:13 PM

The tricky part is is BOR better than the T-bar or are the same in respects of muscle usage. I know that if you use a fairly wide grip on that bent over row you stimulate more of mid traps?

**threenorns** · 18-Jul-05, 12:21 PM

with t-bar, you isolate the lats more and dont need to use secondary muscle groups as much. that's why i prefer BOR, which is more of a compound exercise.

there's also a difference in the angle of attack and you can adjust your stance to suit your form, rather than having to adjust your form to suit the t-bar.

Lift2Live · 18-Jul-05, 03:04 PM

BOR's are a "meat n' potatoes" exercise for the back, as everyone is saying. You might actually find a better contraction with a double underhand grip, alot of people do. Your height really shouldn't matter but for width, go 'just' outside shoulder width for best all around results.

DaRkAnGel · 20-Jul-05, 04:16 AM

BORs are more than meat and potatoes for me. I row twice a week and have done a rowing variation almost every single week for the last year in workouts.

Trust me, these things put a crapload of muscle on your back and arms. Without ever doing pullups consistently(just seing every now and then how many i could do) when i bulked to 242 i was able to do 9.