Want to be able to do 20 pull-ups

Pullups are hard - no doubt about it. There are a couple of things you can do to help. You can use an assistance pullup machine if you have one at the gym (your mileage may vary). If you have a bar at home you can get some assistance by using elastic bands (the big ones for strength) around your knees to get some assistance. You can do negatives - that is, lower yourself slowly from top to bottom when you can not go up any more - you might need a chair under your bar to help you get to the right height. Since I have a bar at home I do pullups throughout the day so that when I am tired I give myself enough rest (I don't do this everyday...). And, of course, you can do pull downs on a machine as well - although I really have to say I prefer the above options much more. I can do 10 pullups - likely others can do many more...

Hi - I can only do 0.25 of a pullup but I am working through this you tube vid - hope you like it.

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

At the start of 2011, I also belonged to the group of those who couldn't do a SINGLE pull up. I remember when I was finally able to do one.. and then two..

The best thing I can say for increasing your pull up counts is to just keep doing them, and keep up with your fitness plan in general. Weight loss helps a lot. I've made it as high as 27 pull ups (chin ups) before, and even as a kid I never achieved a pull up. Not until 2011 when I was 26 years old - so if I can make it, I say anyone can!

Get up there and do however many you can un-assisted, and then when you burn out of those, use a chair and give yourself as little boost as necessary to complete more of them. Practice leads to proficient!

UCB has the right idea. Just keep trying to do them, 2x per week. You'll get a little better each week and in no time you'll be knocking out 5,10 and then 20. They are difficult, but you will get there if you keep trying.

HA HA...in no time you'll knock out 20? BS!

if you have no excess fat and in super shape 20 is still TOUGH....

its a good goal...when you get near 20 you will be in great shape but dont be fooled...it will take losing the excess weight and 6-9 months if you work real hard

I can now do one and a half of pull ups . I'd say strength training, p90 has a disc of a lot of pull-up exercises...push-ups and of course weight training...Good luck.

UCB has the right idea. Just keep trying to do them, 2x per week. You'll get a little better each week and in no time you'll be knocking out 5,10 and then 20. They are difficult, but you will get there if you keep trying.

HA HA...in no time you'll knock out 20? BS!

if you have no excess fat and in super shape 20 is still TOUGH....

its a good goal...when you get near 20 you will be in great shape but dont be fooled...it will take losing the excess weight and 6-9 months if you work real hard

I would suggest, as many others have, practise, practise and more practise. I differ in that when you can do six to eight proper form exercises then add some weight, it need only be 1.25 kg, and build backup to your six to eight mark again then repeat. After doing weighted pull-ups body weight only ones will be a doddle. Remember to allow adequate rest so that the muscle can recover and repair.

I currently do underhand pull-ups as part of my bicep programme, three sets of six reps with a 25 kg plate, one third of my body weight, so it works for me.
The advantage of the pull-up as a bicep exercise is that it effectively works the muscle from both ends. Most other bicep exercises isolate any movement from the top of the muscle. The bicep originates at the scapula and inserts at the radius and deep fascia, in doing so it crosses two joints.

Perseverance will pay dividends.

Top Military workouts has a program

negatives. do your 1 then jump up to the top position and lower yourself slowly and repeat until you can't do anymore than way, then break and do a few more sets like that 2 times/week

or get a rubber band and wrap around the bar put your knee on it to take some of your weight away and do as many reps as possible

Did 3 x 5 negative pullups four days ago and tonight the muscle soreness was still so much that I could only manage 3 x 1 negative rep. I am two stone overweight which will also have a lot to do with it.

The soreness and weakness is not in the grip, biceps or lats. The part that is letting me down is I think the Coracobrachialis muscle, the muscles on the upper back of the arm (not triceps) which help the arm to pull up - where you feel the stretch on the downward part of a bent over row.

Not giving up though!

I agree that getting to 20 from not being able to do 2 is going to take a while. If you focus on those muscles and workout heavy at the gym 4-6 days a week I think you can get to 10 within 4-5 months and get to 20 within 12-15 months. As others have said..its hard...and you have to focus on those muscles but really to get from 2 to 20 in 15 months is not very long. I mean thats a 1000% increase...try to do that with your bench press numbers.