Thread: Thoughts on specific row equipment (back workout)

Free weights!

^ Yup. Always freeweights over machines.

Bent Over Rows are far superior to anything a machine can do.

They're called spider rows and I tend to use that machine more often then t-bar or bent over rows to save my lower back, which is severely prone to injury, for my lower body days. For me, once i get strong at bent over or t-bar rows, i notice that i tend to tweak my back while doing them which then severely limits my lower body days. Quality lower body days are way more important to me than doing free weight BB rows.

Originally Posted by Yanick

They're called spider rows and I tend to use that machine more often then t-bar or bent over rows to save my lower back, which is severely prone to injury, for my lower body days. For me, once i get strong at bent over or t-bar rows, i notice that i tend to tweak my back while doing them which then severely limits my lower body days. Quality lower body days are way more important to me than doing free weight BB rows.

DB Bench Rows?

Originally Posted by mike456

DB Bench Rows?

I do those two, but variety is key. I was speaking specifically about bent over and t-bar rows, i have come to figure that the risk/reward ratio is not worth it, for me*.

*I say 'for me' because lots of people get away with it while some don't. I'm not about to start making generalizations to an entire population based on me, where n=1.

I'm new to a lot of this so I prolly should be reading instead of writting, but we are loving the horizontal pullups right now for the back.

Maybe its because we just started doing them, but it feels like they work the overall back well. I've had back surgery, my buddy needs back surgery and they don't bother us at all.

There's something about pulling up your own weight as opposed to cables or FWs that make it smooth.

I'm not sure if you guys are confused or not...it's not a "machine." T-bar sounds much closer to the actual piece of equipment (its a free moving arm that is olympic-plate loaded) and your body just leans on a 45 degree angle (chest against a pad). There are no bands, cords, or machine parts. It just allows you to isolate your back without using much core....which is why I can tell BB rows are better since it works the core as well.

You are referring to the seated rowing machine that uses plates.
I bought one made by bodysolid.
It's a little too pricey but it's an awesome unit.
Compared to cable rows, It gives me twice the workout.
Unlike the picture I put on here, don't put your feet behind the pads.
Instead, put your feet way out in front to get more leverage and stretch.
With the pad pushing into your chest or stomach(depending on the seat setting)
you have to make sure you haven't eaten before hand either.
I've got almost 200lbs on mine and it's holding up fine.

Originally Posted by HeyWaj10

I'm not sure if you guys are confused or not...it's not a "machine." T-bar sounds much closer to the actual piece of equipment (its a free moving arm that is olympic-plate loaded) and your body just leans on a 45 degree angle (chest against a pad). There are no bands, cords, or machine parts. It just allows you to isolate your back without using much core....which is why I can tell BB rows are better since it works the core as well.

Yanick is right, thats a spider row. With my lower back injury, I started using them 2 days ago and I enjoyed it. I never liked BB Rows. Not because I cant do much weight, but I can never get the mind-muscle connection when the weight got heavy.

I tried doing DB Incline Bench Rows, but the heavier DBs are hard to setup and the fucking 'ring' shaped weights hit the sides of the bench. Good for light weight DBs though..

An EZ bar under an inclined bench solves the problem of DB's hitting the side of the bench.

Originally Posted by AKIRA

Yanick is right, thats a spider row. With my lower back injury, I started using them 2 days ago and I enjoyed it. I never liked BB Rows. Not because I cant do much weight, but I can never get the mind-muscle connection when the weight got heavy.

I tried doing DB Incline Bench Rows, but the heavier DBs are hard to setup and the fucking 'ring' shaped weights hit the sides of the bench. Good for light weight DBs though..

I love the spider rows (or support rows as i call them).

it is an excellent exercise for rowing in a supported position. IMO it is better than BB rows or regular T-bar rows because of the support.

Originally Posted by P-funk

I love the spider rows (or support rows as i call them).

it is an excellent exercise for rowing in a supported position. IMO it is better than BB rows or regular T-bar rows because of the support.

I call them support rows as well. And I too used them rather then BB rows... I felt safe using it and depending on the make, it mimics free weights quite well. I found the verticle handles to be handy sometimes too.

We have a Hammer Strength machine similiar to the pic but right and left are independent of each other. We use it every thursday. Its one of those machines that, for some reason, you can load it up 4 - 45s.

Originally Posted by HeyWaj10

I'm not sure if you guys are confused or not...it's not a "machine." T-bar sounds much closer to the actual piece of equipment (its a free moving arm that is olympic-plate loaded) and your body just leans on a 45 degree angle (chest against a pad). There are no bands, cords, or machine parts. It just allows you to isolate your back without using much core....which is why I can tell BB rows are better since it works the core as well.

Yeah...That's the T-bar, it's pretty good, I throw it in here and there.