Exercise

Wide-Grip Pulldown Behind The Neck

Also known as: wide grip pulldown behind the neck, behind neck lat pulldown, rear pulldown, BTN pulldown

Wide-Grip Pulldown Behind The Neck — position 1Wide-Grip Pulldown Behind The Neck — position 2

Wide-Grip Pulldown Behind The Neck is a compound exercise for the lats. Main target: upper lats. Also works: biceps short head, middle back and posterior deltoid. Equipment: cable.

EquipmentCable
TypeCompound (multi-joint)
MovementPull
CategoryStrength

Muscles worked

How to do it

  1. Sit down on a pull-down machine with a wide bar attached to the top pulley. Make sure that you adjust the knee pad of the machine to fit your height. These pads will prevent your body from being raised by the resistance attached to the bar.
  2. Grab the bar with the palms facing forward using the prescribed grip. Note on grips: For a wide grip, your hands need to be spaced out at a distance wider than your shoulder width. For a medium grip, your hands need to be spaced out at a distance equal to your shoulder width and for a close grip at a distance smaller than your shoulder width.
  3. As you have both arms extended in front of you holding the bar at the chosen grip width, bring your torso and head forward. Think of an imaginary line from the center of the bar down to the back of your neck. This is your starting position.
  4. As you breathe out, bring the bar down until it touches the back of your neck by drawing the shoulders and the upper arms down and back. Tip: Concentrate on squeezing the back muscles once you reach the full contracted position. The upper torso should remain stationary and only the arms should move. The forearms should do no other work except for holding the bar; therefore do not try to pull down the bar using the forearms.
  5. After a second on the contracted position squeezing your shoulder blades together, slowly raise the bar back to the starting position when your arms are fully extended and the lats are fully stretched. Inhale during this portion of the movement.
  6. Repeat this motion for the prescribed amount of repetitions.

Similar exercises

Wide-Grip Lat Pulldown
Cable
Upper lats
Full Range-Of-Motion Lat Pulldown
Cable
Upper lats
Kneeling High Pulley Row
Cable
Upper lats
Seated Cable High Row (V-Bar)
Cable
Upper lats
Straight-Arm Pulldown
Cable
Upper lats
Cable Incline Pushdown
Cable
Upper lats

Alternatives with other equipment

Band Assisted Pull-Up
Bands
Upper lats
Bent-Arm Barbell Pullover
Barbell
Upper lats
Kipping Muscle Up
Other
Upper lats
Rocky Pull-Ups/Pulldowns
Bodyweight
Upper lats
One-Arm Machine High Row
Machine
Upper lats
Catch and Overhead Throw
Medicine ball
Upper lats
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