push ups vs pull ups

Hey I can do 20 good form slow push ups but I can't even do one good pull up (palms away). I can manage a chin up but only one.
I think this could be a bit of an imbalance that I have, anyone got advice how to sort this?

Replies

  • micheleb15
    micheleb15 Posts: 1,418 Member
    More back exercises.
  • tyrsnbdr
    tyrsnbdr Posts: 234 Member
    Lifting your body weight can be hard. Try jumping to the top of pullup position (all the way up) and then let yourself down slowly. Do this 2-5 times.

    Also, Lat pulldowns and rows will help with your back strength.
  • CarlKRobbo
    CarlKRobbo Posts: 390 Member
    Lat pulldowns, Rows - with various grips - BB\Cable\DB

    Chin ups will help as well - They'll help build the biceps\Lats, which will carry over to the pull-ups

    Oh, and Pullups!! Just as you can't do one now, no harm in keeping training them
  • Leadfoot_Lewis
    Leadfoot_Lewis Posts: 1,623 Member
    More back exercises.

    Exactly.

    Push Ups - Use mostly Chest, Triceps, & Shoulders.

    Pull Ups - Use mostly Back (Lats) w/assistance from Shoulders & Arms.
  • SteveJWatson
    SteveJWatson Posts: 1,225 Member
    Just keep trying - there was a time when I could only do one pullup. I can now do sets of 15.
  • Derf_Smeggle
    Derf_Smeggle Posts: 610 Member
    I like the negative pull-up suggested above. I also used a chair-assist to help me through the trouble zone. I am up to 5 unassisted pull-ups, and 7 unassisted chin-ups.
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    It's not much of an imbalance. Pull ups are much harder than push ups, especially if you're overweight. Just sayin the "imbalance" isn't really an issue. Train back and pull ups to get better, as everyone says.
  • tyrsnbdr
    tyrsnbdr Posts: 234 Member
    I like the negative pull-up suggested above. I also used a chair-assist to help me through the trouble zone. I am up to 5 unassisted pull-ups, and 7 unassisted chin-ups.

    Another technique, if you have a buddy, Do you pullup and have your buddy help you through the dead zones by pushing on the center of your back. Friend should only be adding 10-25 lbs of assistance.
  • Showcase_Brodown
    Showcase_Brodown Posts: 919 Member
    I would expect most people to be able to nail many more pushups than pullups. And it is usually the case that chins end up being easier than pull-ups. Pull-ups are kind of a doozie. Just keep working at them, either with your weight offset somehow or by doing negative reps.

    If you need to work on your back, you can do things like rows and deadlift.
  • Danny_Boy13
    Danny_Boy13 Posts: 2,094 Member
    Just keep trying to do them man.... you will get better the more you do.
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,078 Member
    I can do 50 push ups and just about 2 pull ups, you can't really compare the two!

    Keep at it, I never thought I'd even do one.
  • FrnkLft
    FrnkLft Posts: 1,821 Member
    Well for one, they are very different movements. One is a push motion, and the other is a pull, which means they use different muscle groups.

    Just keep at it, and use one of those assisted pullup machines if your gym has one.
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  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Well for one, they are very different movements. One is a push motion, and the other is a pull, which means they use different muscle groups.

    Just keep at it, and use one of those assisted pullup machines if your gym has one.

    this.

    I was typing this and apparently the internet ate it.

    They are useless in comparing each other. It's just waste of time.

    agree
    netagives
    BB rows
    DB rows
    Inverted rows/pull ups
    lat pulls
    assisted band
    assisted machine (should be the last on the list of "helpful)
  • BillyJan1992
    BillyJan1992 Posts: 171 Member
    I prefer push-ups over pull ups they are faster and easier to do. I do 20 minutes of push ups in the morning when I wake up and 20 minutes at night before I go to bed
  • Mr_Excitement
    Mr_Excitement Posts: 833 Member
    Here's a good video on working up to doing pullups:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRznU6pzez0
  • SteveJWatson
    SteveJWatson Posts: 1,225 Member
    Well for one, they are very different movements. One is a push motion, and the other is a pull, which means they use different muscle groups.

    Just keep at it, and use one of those assisted pullup machines if your gym has one.

    this.

    I was typing this and apparently the internet ate it.

    They are useless in comparing each other. It's just waste of time.

    agree
    netagives
    BB rows
    DB rows
    Inverted rows/pull ups
    lat pulls
    assisted band
    assisted machine (should be the last on the list of "helpful)

    People seem to hate on the assisted pullup machine, but it seemed to work just fine for me - by the time I was doing them unassisted, I had worked up to 8-10 on the last 'weight' on the machine and yes, it is shocking how few you can do unassisted, but its all about balance and training those assistance muscles, just dont be too dissapointed when you find you can only do three after being able to crack out 10 no problem on the assisted machine.
  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
    You're dealing with leverage. Even though your back muscles are bigger, you're trying to move your full body weight. Try doing a pull when the bar is only about 3 ft from the ground (feet on the ground and pulling back like a row). You'll notice you can do some of those (maybe as many as you can do pushups).

    It sounds like you have a new goal to work toward (a great one by the way). Assisted pull ups and other back exercises (heavy as you can go) will help you develop to a point you can work in some pull ups. And work from there.
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    I prefer push-ups over pull ups they are faster and easier to do. I do 20 minutes of push ups in the morning when I wake up and 20 minutes at night before I go to bed

    That's fine and good, but one is not a substitute for the other. They are opposite movements, using completely different muscle groups.
  • smc864
    smc864 Posts: 570 Member
    In this video Scooby shows you how to work up to performing pull-ups:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRznU6pzez0
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    just keep hitting them brother..

    when I started I could not do one..now I can do 5x5 at + 40# ….just takes time ..but they are a killer freaking work out..love em!
  • waldo56
    waldo56 Posts: 1,861 Member
    Parallel Dips and chin-ups are better for balance comparison than pushups and pullups.

    With good balance in the arms, shoulders, back, and chest, you should be able to do exactly as many same weight (weighted or unweighted) parallel dips as you can do chin-ups.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member

    People seem to hate on the assisted pullup machine, but it seemed to work just fine for me - by the time I was doing them unassisted, I had worked up to 8-10 on the last 'weight' on the machine and yes, it is shocking how few you can do unassisted, but its all about balance and training those assistance muscles, just dont be too dissapointed when you find you can only do three after being able to crack out 10 no problem on the assisted machine.

    because they are the most ineffective way to train- they do not mimic an actual pull up. The mechanics are barely the same. It doesn't train you to use your back properly or set your alignment up to pull to the bar. Had you used another method of training- it would have happened faster and your transition to doing real ones would have been better. ... says the girl who can do weighted pull ups and NEVER uses the assisted machine. Seriously- it's just one of the most ineffective ways to train for that movement.

    I prefer push-ups over pull ups they are faster and easier to do. I do 20 minutes of push ups in the morning when I wake up and 20 minutes at night before I go to bed
    That's fine and good, but one is not a substitute for the other. They are opposite movements, using completely different muscle groups.

    yeah- I can bang out 20 push ups where ever whenever- that's all well and good- but 1. it's easier and 2. has nothing to do with my back.

    Huff is completely right.
  • antjoanes
    antjoanes Posts: 33 Member
    Thanks for the advice everyone one.

    I'm going to concentrate on rows and doing negative pull Ups and chin Ups. I'll get there in the end and I think I need to do these before my press Ups. My shoulders do slightly round in so I want to work on back and get everything in alignment.