Seated Cable Rows

[SlimShady]

Our gym has a seated cable row machine. I've seen people use different techniques - wide grip, close grip, under hand - Can someone explain the differences? Is one preferred over the other?

Thanks for putting up with my beginner questions. This place is great.

 

[P-funk]

My answer in this revious thread from yesterday applies the same way here:

rows

UNderhand in just another variation of a sagital plane pull (elbows in) as is neutral grip. Underhand will tend to recruit more bicep however as you are in a comfortable position for them to apply force and get a good range of motion (more elbow flexion). One thing I like on the cable row is using a rope so that I can get more of a range of motion in my pull and squeeze my shoulder blades back more.

 

[SlimShady]

Thanks for the info! The gym has a bunch of attachments. I've been using something that's shaped like an old fashioned bicycle handlebar. Kind of hard to describe, but your hands are in a verticle plane and the bar is bent to fit around your abs when you pull back. It's nice that you can pull it back that far, but the angle of the hands forces you to keep your elbows tight to the body. I'm doing the rows for my back, so maybe I need to cock to my elbows out more? I'll try the rope next time.

 

[Robboe]

I find better middle back muscle (traps/rhomboids/teres) contraction with a wider grip on cable rows. I use the wide-grip pulldown bar.