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April 2004
The question-of-the-month for April comes
from Nick in Pennsylvania, a 20 year old whose goal is to
compete in bodybuilding and powerlifting. His question is:
Dear Mike:
What is the best hand
placement for barbell rows - same grip as bench press,
shoulder width, inside shoulder width? Thanks.
Dear Nick:
Thanks for the great question.
Barbell
rows are one of my all-time favorite exercises, and I consider
them to be one of the best for adding thickness and mass to
the back – second only to deadlifts. Personally, I
favor a reverse (underhand) grip for barbell rows. I
find that a reverse grip allows more emphasis to be placed on
the middle to lower lat area. As far as grip width, I
recommend using a variety. Lastly, remember to
keep your elbows in – when you are pulling the bar up, your
elbows should be in next to your side as much as possible.
Thanks
again for your question, Nick. Good luck,
and as always, don't forget to visit the Past
Qs & As and my Training
Tips section for more great tips and training info.
Until next month, train hard and stay
healthy.
Mike Francois
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If so, visit our Ask Mike section
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Note: Before
embarking on any nutrition, supplementation, and/or training
program, consult with your physician or other licensed
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