push ups vs pull ups

antjoanes

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?

micheleb15

More back exercises.

tyrsnbdr

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

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

More back exercises.

Exactly.

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

Pull Ups - Use mostly Back (Lats) w/assistance from Shoulders & Arms.

SteveJWatson

Just keep trying - there was a time when I could only do one pullup. I can now do sets of 15.

Derf_Smeggle

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

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

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

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

Just keep trying to do them man.... you will get better the more you do.

skinnyinnotime

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

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.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

JoRocka

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

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

Here's a good video on working up to doing pullups:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRznU6pzez0

SteveJWatson

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

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

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

In this video Scooby shows you how to work up to performing pull-ups:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRznU6pzez0

ndj1979

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

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

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

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.