Close Grip Body Row. How-to, proper form and tips
The Close Grip Body Row exercise is great for strengthening the back muscles. It serves as a preparation for the pull up.
Video demonstration
(excerpt from 'Close grip inverted rows'
by George Decker)
How to and step by step instructions:
- Hold the bar with both hands, palms facing forward, close to each other.
- Move your feet forward and straighten legs and core.
- Fully extend your arms, hanging in diagonal from the bar. This is the starting position.
- Bend your arms, bringing the chest close to the bar.
- Stay there a few seconds and extend the arms again, lowering yourself to the initial position.
Hints & tips:
- The more horizontal, the hardest is the move.
- Choose a higher bar for an easier variation.
- Put your feet closer to the bar for an easier variation.
Benefits:
- Works all muscles needed for the pull up.
- Strengthen back muscles.
- Very easy to adjust to your fitness level, by adjusting feet position.
Counting & gamification:
- Adjust the feet position to have 10 reps of maximum effort yet proper form.
- Aim for 3 series x10 in a session.
- Use different grips, such as in Body Row or Wide Grip Body Row.
Muscles worked and body parts involved:
Primary muscles: Shoulder, Triceps, Upper Back
Secondary muscles: Forearms, Chest
Other names
The exercise can be found with other names. Examples are:
- Close Grip Body Row
- Close Grip Inverted Row
- Close Grip Bodyweight Row
- Close Grip Horizontal Pull Up
- Close and Pronated Grip Body Row
- Close Grip Australian Pull Up
- Close Grip Pronated Australian Pull Up
