Pullups and chinups

Skel

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What exactly is the difference between the 2?
I mean what body parts does each work.
I can do like 10 pullups but cant do many chinups.
Also do these help you get bigger or just stronger?
 

-.-

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Originally posted by Skel
What exactly is the difference between the 2?
I mean what body parts does each work.
I can do like 10 pullups but cant do many chinups.
Also do these help you get bigger or just stronger?
Chins are supposedly easier than pullups.

Just to be clear:

Chins = Palms facing yourself
Pullups = Palms facing out

Here's a link for further analysis.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/search.php?s=&action=showresults&searchid=2917963&sortby=&sortorder=

But basically, It's just preference and which one works better for you. For me, I prefer chins because it really is good for the biceps. :)
 

DJBen

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I still really struggle with a good deep pull up, but I can crank out chin ups until the cows come home.

Chins = bicep
Pullups = Back

They make you put on size and strength if done right. If it gets too easy you can add a weight belt and do them that way.
 

-.-

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Originally posted by DJBen
I still really struggle with a good deep pull up, but I can crank out chin ups until the cows come home.

Chins = bicep
Pullups = Back

They make you put on size and strength if done right. If it gets too easy you can add a weight belt and do them that way.
I disagree. Chins are not only for biceps. Pullups are not only for back. They are compound, and must be treated accordingly. :)
 

DJBen

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I disagree. Chins are not only for biceps. Pullups are not only for back.
I never said they were only for biceps and back. I was just giving a general overview.

Deadlifts are for back, Squats are for Legs, Bench Presses are for Chest, Shoulder Presses are for shoulders... they're all compound movements and not isolations, however, I regard them as back, legs etc cause thats what it mainly focuses on.

I wouldnt say Benching primarily works your:

Pectoralis Major/Minor - Most active at the bottom of the pressing movement

Triceps - Used more towards the end of the lift, and if not strong enough, causes the notorious sticking spot near the top of the lift.

Front Deltoid - Used throughout the lift

and why? because it's way too specific. People use bench presses on chest day. period. It's a chest excersize, albeit a compound excsersize.

[excluding close grip bench press, which 'course, works ye olde triceps more]

Either way, pull ups are in my back day, chin ups would be in my bi's day. With me?
 

California Love

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Chins = Biceps + Back


Pullups = Back + Triceps. However, the triceps are working at a very restricted angle, which makes pullups harder for most people.
 

-.-

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Originally posted by DJBen
Either way, pull ups are in my back day, chin ups would be in my bi's day. With me?
I'm with you... :) But basically, most people do back and bicep in the same day. How's ur split bro?
 

-.-

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Originally posted by California Love
Chins = Biceps + Back


Pullups = Back + Triceps. However, the triceps are working at a very restricted angle, which makes pullups harder for most people.
Triceps? You serious? Triceps are worked at pushing stuff.. And Biceps on pulling, basically.
 

California Love

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Originally posted by -.-
Triceps? You serious? Triceps are worked at pushing stuff.. And Biceps on pulling, basically.
Don't trust me braindmg? Check it out for yourself the next time you work out.
 

DJBen

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Day 1: Legs

Day 2: Back + Tri's

Day 3: off

Day 4: Chest + Bi's

Day 5: Delts + Traps

Day 6: off

Day 7: off

Now the summer holiday is here, I've changed the days my workout week starts to fit around my working days, but actually I changed my split so the muscles that seem to get DOMS the worst are on the days where I'm wokring nights.

I cant stand doing tri's on chest day... I know I can get so much more out of my tri's, I just dont feel they get worked enough. I've tried doing chest first on one week, then tri's first the next week, then chest again the following week, but I just dont like it... I dont feel satisfied at the end of the workout.

My gains have gone through the roof recently with some nice heavy compound movements and this split.
 

-.-

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Originally posted by California Love
Don't trust me braindmg? Check it out for yourself the next time you work out.
How do you know me? Who are you? :D
 

semag

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Awesome split ben, I know what you mean about the triceps/chest day and not feeling it hardcore. I do a similar split to you right now.

If your 8-10 weeks comes along, and you're taking your week off, and looking for something to throw into your next routine, think about old school bodybuilding at the 5 x 5 approach (5 sets of 5 - heavy). I've been doing it for a bit on specific 'big' exercises (squats, arnolds, flat bench, deads, rows...) and my strength gains have been coming back pretty damn good. Just a tho't.
 

Omega

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DJBen

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haha semag, funny you should say that

I started doing that about 2 weeks ago... the last set blew my legs off :D

What'd your oppinion be on adding in the occasional 3 weeks of doing purely big excersizes such as clean and jerks, deadlifts, squats, benching etc. From what I hear, taking up a powerlifting style routine for a short amount of time can really boost your strength and give your bodybuilding a sudden kick in the pants... then again, I dont always believe what I read online ;)
 

semag

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What'd your oppinion be on adding in the occasional 3 weeks of doing purely big excersizes such as clean and jerks, deadlifts, squats, benching etc. From what I hear, taking up a powerlifting style routine for a short amount of time can really boost your strength and give your bodybuilding a sudden kick in the pants
Sounds to me like an awesome idea. Throwing in "head rush" exercises like that for a few weeks will just tear you to shreads, and then you can go back to some isolations after your body is pumped from those weeks. seems like an awesome idea.
 

NRM

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Pullups are NOT for back and triceps. The only difference between pullups and chinups is the way your hands are facing and the distribution of weight on your back, biceps, while working most of your upper body including abs, chest, shoulders, ect..

Chinups are easier because you're focusing more weight on your biceps. Most people have more strength in their biceps than in their lats. Pullups are harder for some because you are less able to use your biceps for most of the weight. It's not an exact science, but pullups are typically harder than chinups.

Pulling is a bicep/back motion. Pushing is a tricep/chest motion. Not all the time, but most of the time. You are not flexing your triceps on the pull of a pullup or chinup. Imagine you doing dumbell curls, would you be working your triceps just because your palms are facing down instead of facing up? Nope. You'd put some extra strain on your forearms, but you would absolutely NOT be working your triceps because of it.

California Love, I don't know what kind of pullups you've been doing, but you should not feel tension in your triceps for a pull up. Just put up your arm and flex with your palm facing your face and then flex with your palm facing away. Still biceps, just subtle differences in position.
 

akindofblue

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Do them both. And add weight via a belt.

And no cheating. All the way down, and all the way up. No swinging, no rocking. Up and down.

Seriously, nothing gives your back width like pullups/chinups. Once you can do 8 or so, up the weight. It's the quickest way to build. A few months ago I could only do 8 pullups w/o weights. I made 30 yesterday.
 

Skel

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What about your forearms? I get really sore in my forearms especially with chin ups. Pull ups give me a soreness right below my bicep in my forearm as well.
 
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