Thread: How many pull ups can you do ?

12 at the most! For 3 sets. When I started out, I could do 3 to 4 and 1 set!

I'm very weak there but need to start strengthening in that dept. for various reasons. For an awesome back and life and death situations are the main reasons.

I can do 34 full-stretch chins (chin above bar-level) with my palms facing inwards and a close grips.

I can only pull 16-18 with palms facing outwards and wider grip.

However, it's not the quantity that counts, you should really conentrate on feeling every part of your back work ..
.. on the way up AND down.

I believe Shawn Ray once 'wrote' a good article on it.

Sometimes, I like to do forced ones with added weight (where my training partner pushes me upwards by my feet
and slowly lets me fight gravity. Be sure to use strap holds there!

I have the same problem with pullups, not being able to do more than 1. I'd be very much interested to learn how to improve this.

- Josh

Assisted negatives are the best way to improve if you have trouble doing even one. Get some help to get to the top of the movement and then resist coming down as slowly as possible to get a really good, long contraction. You can do this yourself with a bench or with a partner.

These have greatly helped my back development...bodyweight exercises are the best. Try the Arnold technique...go for 50 repetitions, no matter how many sets it takes you to get there. At first, you might have 25 sets of 2, then 10 sets of 5, eventually you will be able to do 3 sets of 16/17 no problem. Just don't be prepared to be able to move afterwards.

Before I started training HST style, I would get 6-8 wide grip palm facing chins at the max. That was in the middle of the workout, but its still a low number. Maybe its the high frequency of HST or whatnot, but I can know do 10-12 wide grippers no problem and Im doing more each workout, even after barbell rows. Its just one of those things that takes a lot of practice to perfect, and negatives are a great helper also.

No weight, I can get 15, 8 with a 45 on my waist. Wide grip, palms out.

Like ponyboy said, Assisted negatives for those that can't do any and once you can do 6 start using weight even if you can only get 2 or 3.
Its funny cause I see people that can pull alot on the pulldown but can't do a pullup to save there lives, its a different movement.

I am one of those whose slowly changing it around.

Refering to pullup rather than pulldown!

4. I'm working to improve but not that long ago I couldn't do 1.

It would be cool to be able to do 20 like it was no big deal!

Pull ups turn heads, no doubt. I can do about 16, or so, no wt. and 10 w/ 50lbs. more or less (forward, wide grip). I use straps to help concentrate on my back, it will definitely allow you to do more. I use my partner a lot to burn it out after my back fails me and really try to keep my elbows back. I increased my reps substantially when I started doing them twice a week, one day for reps then one day for added wt. - With wt. we call it Dog Food pull ups ( using 40-50 lbs.)! Sounds pretty cool to us!

A lousy 3. . I'm working on it though. Used to be, I couldn't do one.

Jen

I can probably do around 15, but I rarely do them.

I do 3X15 with palms facing out. I use a Pullup bar over my door and find that it works well. The only problem is you really can't do the wide grip PU that really get those lats going.

Another thing about pullups, like any exercise, is mental approach. If you don't think you can do 10 or 15 or 20... you never will. Determine within yourself that you will progress and you'll be surprised what you can do.

I just do not get much out of them, I prefer cable pull-downs and rows.

If I did them real slow and got the negative, I'd probably be dead at 5 oppose to help me god-get up there 12!

Prince - Stick 80#s around yer waist, or more if required. You'll get something out of it - guaranteed! (Maybe bigger shirts)

Originally posted by Scream'n
Prince - Stick 80#s around yer waist, or more if required. You'll get something out of it - guaranteed! (Maybe bigger shirts)

80#'s ??? I would just hang there! LOL

Mybe longer arms then?

I can do betwen 15 and 18. Add 25lbs and it knocks it down to 10 reps. I like the weighted reps. If you want to be able to do alot of pull-ups, then do them alot. I know alot of guys that to improve decently they have to do pullups 3 times a week or so. Generally because your lats just arent that frequently used, so perhaps it is harder to gain stamina with one workout a week.

Originally posted by Scream'n
Mybe longer arms then?

no, I meant that I would not be able to move.

I can do 15, wide grip, with an 80 lb weight between my legs, and the 80 lbs is not plates if ya know what I am sayin.

after doing chest work out, and directly after some machene pull downs I can do 15 wide gip palms out for two sets, and then 10reps for 2 sets.

I also use the arnold routine.

I can do 15 slow reps, do not know about weighted though.
Hey, looks like 15 is some kind of a consensus here! :-)
I bet the spectrum is wider with bencpresses or deadlifts, heh heh.

i can do 13 but i have to do them fast palms facing me hands shoulder width

I've only done this once about 45 days ago and was able to get 8 wide bar, palms facing out, 2 seconds up/2seconds down. I haven't done any since. Not sure why other than the bar is in the middle of Gold's Gym and I don't want eveyone to see what a wuss I am.

i just tried them today cuz i saw the thread

I JUST STARTED WORKING OUT AGAIN IN MARCH AND I LOOK AT THAT PULL UP BAR AND RUN. HOW MANY CAN I DO? I DON'T KNOW I DON'T HAVE THE GUTS YET TO EVEN TRY. WHEN I DO I WILL LET EVERYONE KNOW. SEE YA.

hey NICK, take off your Caps Lock!

Originally posted by Duncan
I can do 15, wide grip, with an 80 lb weight between my legs, and the 80 lbs is not plates if ya know what I am sayin.

You bin shuvin quarters up your ass again Duncan?

Just playin wit ya.