Thread: Replacement for rack pulls

do they have a platform in the gym where you can set the weights on the platform, and you go on the floor, thus making yourself lower and the weights higher?

or, you could stack up some plates on the floor and put the weights on there to your desired height.

OR, if all else fails, I would imagine the closet you could come to replicating the muscles used in a rack pull would be to do heavy shrugs and heavy hypers?

Originally Posted by Stewart14

do they have a platform in the gym where you can set the weights on the platform, and you go on the floor, thus making yourself lower and the weights higher?

or, you could stack up some plates on the floor and put the weights on there to your desired height.

OR, if all else fails, I would imagine the closet you could come to replicating the muscles used in a rack pull would be to do heavy shrugs and heavy hypers?

That's genius! That's the same reason I can't do rack pulls at my gym. I'll just set up some plates or something!

I couldnt help but post this video when I thought about rack pulls.

Is this how NOT to do rack pulls? Me :: 405 rack pulls video by tylercarlson89 - Photobucket

Its hard to tell from that angle and I am by no means an expert, but from everything i was told from merkabas and patricks alike you need to do this with form and not so ANGRY. get the momentum out of the pull, otherwise i would call that a rack yank and drop to the bounce up.

Also your upper back looks like it has some rounding in it. Try on your initial pull to pull the shoulders back and just use the arms as gripping devices. Your arms should not move from being pulled to your upper back, otherwise lower the weight.

Thanks stewart. I was thinking of some sort of way to possibly raise myself, but I dont know how safe that is with 400+lbs being lifted and the potential of something shifting. Its a new gym so i havent figured out how to macgyver anything yet. I need to find a way to do glute-hams. I freakin love these.

Originally Posted by ectomorph141

I couldnt help but post this video when I thought about rack pulls.

Is this how NOT to do rack pulls? Me :: 405 rack pulls video by tylercarlson89 - Photobucket

You look like you were rack pulling from a trampoline! Slow down, buddy! Control the weight.

You should post a video from the side so we can see your back.

Originally Posted by Phineas

You look like you were rack pulling from a trampoline! Slow down, buddy! Control the weight.

You should post a video from the side so we can see your back.

I do rack pulls like I do my BBQ, SLOW AND LOW.

Yea I think you almost want to have a 1 count at the bottom of the pull and definitely more control. That weight isn't insane (I pull 315 for repsand don't consider myself a particularly strong DLer) so he should be able to do it w/ more control.

There's no reason to rack pull or deadlift without de-weighting at the bottom of each rep. When the weight is bouncing off the pins, it kind of defeats the purpose.

Originally Posted by gtbmed

There's no reason to rack pull or deadlift without de-weighting at the bottom of each rep. When the weight is bouncing off the pins, it kind of defeats the purpose.

agreed. Now aside from stewart, are their any other people that have suggestions for rack pull alternates.

Hang cleans, deadlifts, and hang jump shrugs would be my suggestions. I would say hang cleans would be the best.

I agree with all the comments about the vid. I treat racks like regular deadlifts - i don't bounce those either, because they're a DEAD lift. Take a second to reset in between reps.

As for alternatives, if you don't mind hogging two benches you could use those as your "rack" and stand in between them. Dunno how heavy you could go before breaking the padding though, haha.

Originally Posted by Phineas

You look like you were rack pulling from a trampoline! Slow down, buddy! Control the weight.

You should post a video from the side so we can see your back.

haha thats not me. But if I was doing rack pulls I sure as heck would not be bouncing them all crazy like that. I control everything I lift. That guy in the vid just looks like an idiot. Perfect example of what not to do.

Originally Posted by ectomorph141

I couldnt help but post this video when I thought about rack pulls.

Is this how NOT to do rack pulls? Me :: 405 rack pulls video by tylercarlson89 - Photobucket

You'd get kicked out of Planet Fitness for sure.

Ohhh I see why people thought that was me. When I provided the hyperlink to that guy, it changed it to "me:: 405 rack pulls......." No that is not me. Heck I can only lift half that weight and I sure as heck would not be bouncing it like that. lol

Here I will re-link the video. "This is how NOT to do rack pulls - it is not me" It is some random google search for rack pulls.

Originally Posted by gtbmed

Hang cleans, deadlifts, and hang jump shrugs would be my suggestions. I would say hang cleans would be the best.

I do hang cleans on an alternate day, and let me say I LOVE THEM.

Originally Posted by Gazhole

I agree with all the comments about the vid. I treat racks like regular deadlifts - i don't bounce those either, because they're a DEAD lift. Take a second to reset in between reps.

As for alternatives, if you don't mind hogging two benches you could use those as your "rack" and stand in between them. Dunno how heavy you could go before breaking the padding though, haha.

I do from 225 all the way to 485 on rack pulls. Im sure they would be upset if their new member broke all their shit. Maybe ill try.

Originally Posted by suprfast

I do hang cleans on an alternate day, and let me say I LOVE THEM.

Try hang jump shrugs. They'll help your hang cleans and they're another good way to bring up the traps. Plus, they work grip and they'll kill your calves.

Originally Posted by gtbmed

Try hang jump shrugs. They'll help your hang cleans and they're another good way to bring up the traps. Plus, they work grip and they'll kill your calves.

hmmm, i like everything this works out. Ill look into this one. I really want my grip strength to increase and who doesn't want traps!

Originally Posted by suprfast

I do from 225 all the way to 485 on rack pulls. Im sure they would be upset if their new member broke all their shit. Maybe ill try.

I think the benches could handle about 300 max, but even then its probably not great.

Originally Posted by Gazhole

I think the benches could handle about 300 max, but even then its probably not great.

That would be 300 evenly distributed across the length, not a 1" bar across the width. I'm sure stewart said to just put a few 45's on each side and use them as my "rack" height. After todays workout, I want to push big numbers for strength.
kris

Originally Posted by suprfast

That would be 300 evenly distributed across the length, not a 1" bar across the width. I'm sure stewart said to just put a few 45's on each side and use them as my "rack" height. After todays workout, I want to push big numbers for strength.
kris

Definitely go for the plates then i would, love heavy rack pulls

Last night when I was at the gym I did notice that I might not have to eliminate or alter rack pulls much, if at all. I normally set the pin height to be just below the knee. When I was at the gym the pin height would be just above the knee. Difference should be 2-3 inches. Does anyone think this would be an issue? Maybe I can just go heavier to compensate a little for the revised ROM?

Only downfall I found out is the lack of Chalk the gym allows. I'm going to have to rack pull bare back. Even at 465lbs my grip(one hand supinated, one hand pronated) doesn't fail so I won't be using any helper straps until that point.

Sounds like you'll be fine. Just go for it. A few inches will mean you can go a tad heavier, but its still legit.