Better choice than a barbell row?

[Kraken]

I used to have an awesome trainer years ago, but now I have moved and have just been sticking to simple, beginner plans. I have been doing Stronglifts 5x5 but a few months ago switched to Stronglifts Ultra. Readers Digest, it's M lower, T upper, R upper and F lower. Upper day is a mix of bench press, overhead press and barbell row.

One thing I really like about this plan is that I can just grab a power rack and do all the exercises right there, without worrying about needing to switch to another machine that might not be available. But, I really dislike the barbell row. I'm never sure I'm doing it right. Am I bent enough or too much? Am I bringing the bar to the right part of my chest? Knees bent too much or too little? Lots of variables.

Is there another exercise I can substitute that works the same set of muscles but is just easier to get right?

 

[SFGiants]

Hammer Rows, or T-Bar

 

[SFGiants]

 

[eazy]

what about a yates row.

underhand grip.
elbows tight to side of your body.
pull the bar up until you hit your stomach or lifting belt if you are wearing one.
straighten arms back out
bend over as much or as little as you like.

 

[snake]

I haven't done bent over rows in decades. Give me lower cable rows any day of the week.

 

[Type-IIx]

Seal row if equipment is limited. This totally removes any limitations due to lower back/abdominals fatiguing first, better targets the midback/rhomboids, while still being a great lat developer.

 

[Kraken]

Thanks guys! I'll check these options out, much appreciated.

 

[CJ]

Thanks guys! I'll check these options out, much appreciated.

Chest supported rows are great, various grips and lines of pull. Very, very effective for back training.

But you lose out on hitting the erectors, glutes, and hammies isometrically. Not a big deal if that's addressed with other exercises.

 

[buck]

Whatever row allows you to contract your shoulders back and down should work fine. If you are trying to activate the lats. Where things end up when doing that will change depending on a person structure. Not everyone would end up the exact same place when doing BB row for example. Torso length. arm length etc. will all change the leverage points.

 

[Kraken]

Chest supported rows are great, various grips and lines of pull. Very, very effective for back training.

But you lose out on hitting the erectors, glutes, and hammies isometrically. Not a big deal if that's addressed with other exercises.

Just last night I ran across a video about replacing six exercises with better ones, and the bent over row was the first they discussed.

This afternoon, I'm going to see if the gym has a seated, chest supported, T bar machine (like @SFGiants suggested). As I understand it, that would decouple the back work from the muscles used to support my standing bent over. Hopefully it won't be too hard to get on to it. If that turns out to be the case over time, I'll try something else.

@CJ on Mondays I do 5x5 squats and 1x5 deadlifts. On Thursday it's 5x5 dead lifts and 1x5 squats. I usually throw some extra sets in. I presume that covers the erectors, gluts and hamstrings well?

 

[Kraken]

Here is the video I mentioned above in case anyone is interested:

 

[CJ]

Just last night I ran across a video about replacing six exercises with better ones, and the bent over row was the first they discussed.

This afternoon, I'm going to see if the gym has a seated, chest supported, T bar machine (like @SFGiants suggested). As I understand it, that would decouple the back work from the muscles used to support my standing bent over. Hopefully it won't be too hard to get on to it. If that turns out to be the case over time, I'll try something else.

@CJ on Mondays I do 5x5 squats and 1x5 deadlifts. On Thursday it's 5x5 dead lifts and 1x5 squats. I usually throw some extra sets in. I presume that covers the erectors, gluts and hamstrings well?

Yes, you're probably doing too much lower back work, actually.

Ditch the Bentover Barbell Rows.

 

[Kraken]

Ditch the Bentover Barbell Rows.

Thanks! Its been ditched.

The gym has two machines, one with a stack of plates and a pin, and another that you manually add plates to. I chose the former, since its easier to switch the weight. I definitely felt it in my back and arms, great improvement!

I wonder, if I put the same weight on either machine, should I expect comparable resistance? I ask because if that is the case, it will be easy to use whichever based on which is available.

 

[CJ]

Thanks! Its been ditched.

The gym has two machines, one with a stack of plates and a pin, and another that you manually add plates to. I chose the former, since its easier to switch the weight. I definitely felt it in my back and arms, great improvement!

I wonder, if I put the same weight on either machine, should I expect comparable resistance? I ask because if that is the case, it will be easy to use whichever based on which is available.

You can not compare the weight from one machine to the next, cams, pulleys, lever lengths, etc... all change the torque and/or weight lifted. It's simply not comparable.

Try both, use whichever feels better.

 

[old builder]

several months ago i started doing braced rows in the power rack because bent over rows bother my back sometimes , 2 back surgeries. i also do braced dumbell rows. i have better back developement since i started doing these.

 

[Jonjon]

I love bb rows. I bend almost 90 degrees, underhand grip. Pull the bar into my belly button. Chest out. I don’t know how anybody could not love it.

 

[Kraken]

I have been doing seated rows, on the machine, and can really feel it in my back now. Much better than before. I think the machine just helps me be more consistent, since I'm careful to set the seat height the same each time.

 

[BD Bodybuilder]

Have you tried single arm dumbbell bench rows?

 

[Kraken]

Have you tried single arm dumbbell bench rows?

Is that a back or triceps exercise?

 

[andy]

I love bb rows. I bend almost 90 degrees, underhand grip. Pull the bar into my belly button. Chest out. I don’t know how anybody could not love it.

totally same to me/ one love