The 'rounded' V taper - attainable, or genetics?

[Standby]

lol was waiting for a joke, didnt expect an awesome picture joke tho!!

[gbrice75]

*sigh* ... and there goes the thread!

It took you guys a while though, props!

[Reed]

Gotta love lats. My back is my strong point from years of rock climbing

[DSM4Life]

Gotta love lats. My back is my strong point from years of rock climbing

If i was a mountain would you climb me ?

[Reed]

If i was a mountain would you climb me ?

hahahaha no DSM sorry.

[FireGuy]

Ok, here's a guy who, granted, isn't huge by any means - but he has a decent build with a small V-taper. Notice he has NO 'roundedness' at the top whatsoever. I'm using him as an example because his build reminds me alot of my own:

http://forums.steroid.com/showthread...2-Bf-estimate-!

For the other example, i'm linking you to Baseline's thread. Everybody knows Base! Scroll down to the middle of the page and check his most recent pics. Granted, he's bigger then the guy in my first example, but not by leaps and bounds. Notice how much differently his back is shaped. This is what i'm talking about!

http://forums.steroid.com/showthread...luded-**/page7

The reason the guy on the top pics looks like that is largely due to him having his shoulders raised way to high when he hits that pose. It's making him appear much more straight up and down than he really is. If you look as Base's pics you will notice a couple back double bi's where his shoulders are raised and his arms are too high causing him to narrow out as well. His most recent pics he has his shoulders dropped in a more correct form and boom, he just got much wider.

Which brings me to my next point, when you train back all of your pulldown movements should finish with your shoulders ALL THE WAY DOWN. Next back workout put the ego aside, cut the amount of weight you are using in half and do every motion slow and controlled and finish each rep with your shoulders pulled down as far as they can go and focus 100% on the contraction throughout the positive and negative aspect of every rep. Do your entire back workout in that manner and tell me how it feels the next few days.

[bjpennnn]

well said fireguy i go lighter on back and focus more on form as well.

[biobest692]

....

[songdog]

All I want to know is.You beat that gal in rack pulls this week!!! lol

[KINGKONG]

Gotta love lats. My back is my strong point from years of rock climbing

Is that what those are from..Iam gonna have to take up rock climbing lol
Looking good brother!

[Standby]

well said fire guy. the difference from me and my buddy is he jump high up in weight and swings it down i cut the weight lower and stay good form trying to feel a huge burn. now im going to have to make sure im doing the shoulder thing too 100%

[Knockout_Power]

V for vagina

[D3m3nt3d]

My lats V taper nicely and I NEVER do pullups. I guess it's just genetic for me bro

[Hazard]

Gotta love lats. My back is my strong point from years of rock climbing

I used to do a TON of bouldering..... both indoors and outdoors. I really miss it..... I stopped because my expensive bouldering shoes were stolen and I wasn't about to drop more coin on another pair lol

~Haz~

[baseline_9]

Thanks FG

TBH tho i think it comes down to having lots of lats and a small waist.

But GB I know exactly what ur talking about.

Reeds avi is a prime example of exactly the opposite,,, rite?

[Dukkit]

I always get compliments on the V of my back.

Pull ups and rack pulls helped the most for me, I feel.

Big shoulders help portray the illusion. I dont think I have great shoulders but they work in comparison to my back.

[Dukkit]

V for vagina

Great album by Puscifer.

If you dont know the band... youtube my friends.

[Kawigirl]

Gotta love lats. My back is my strong point from years of rock climbing

You must of rock climbed before building?

I've tried...and lifting myself up on rocks just doesn't happen!

[Times Roman]

my 20 year old son has the genetics.... wide shoulders, narrow waiste. I have the wide shoulders, but larger at the hip

ya gotta play the cards gawd delt ya, but ya also gotta play em well!

[Reed]

Is that what those are from..Iam gonna have to take up rock climbing lol
Looking good brother!

Thanks!! Haha I guess. My old rocking pics you can really see where it came from but I was a bit shorter and QUITE a bit lighter haha.

I used to do a TON of bouldering..... both indoors and outdoors. I really miss it..... I stopped because my expensive bouldering shoes were stolen and I wasn't about to drop more coin on another pair lol

~Haz~

Dude bouldering is my JAM. I was so good at it too. V8 was my best and a outdoor 5.12a (indoor did 12c/d) at the height of my climbing. I know its SOO expensive. I did some climbing this summer is was pretty fun

You must of rock climbed before building?

I've tried...and lifting myself up on rocks just doesn't happen!

Sure did. Yeah its definitely hard these days for me. I do the easy climbs that are long so I can get up real high (no pun intended) and enjoy the view

[gbrice75]

Gotta love lats. My back is my strong point from years of rock climbing

Reed, needless to say your back is absolutely sick.

If i was a mountain would you climb me ?

DSM, if you were a mountain, i'd sit down on you, then i'd pee.

The reason the guy on the top pics looks like that is largely due to him having his shoulders raised way to high when he hits that pose. It's making him appear much more straight up and down than he really is. If you look as Base's pics you will notice a couple back double bi's where his shoulders are raised and his arms are too high causing him to narrow out as well. His most recent pics he has his shoulders dropped in a more correct form and boom, he just got much wider.

Which brings me to my next point, when you train back all of your pulldown movements should finish with your shoulders ALL THE WAY DOWN. Next back workout put the ego aside, cut the amount of weight you are using in half and do every motion slow and controlled and finish each rep with your shoulders pulled down as far as they can go and focus 100% on the contraction throughout the positive and negative aspect of every rep. Do your entire back workout in that manner and tell me how it feels the next few days.

FG, I think I know what you mean. The first guy is 'stretching' out his body, where keeping it tighter and more tucked would allow him to widen a bit. I have to learn how to pose! I do see the difference in Base's photo's although I still think he looks much more developed as well.

I do go pretty light on back and really try to focus on my form, because I have always felt it was a weak point. On pulldowns and rowing exercises, I have tried to really squeeze my shoulder blades together as if I was trying to pinch a pencil (thanks Twist) in between them. Is this what you're talking about? Either way, i'll pay particular attention to my shoulders on my next back day (Tuesday). Thanks as always for the useful tips!

All I want to know is.You beat that gal in rack pulls this week!!! lol

LoL well I rack pulled 405, I haven't seen her do that yet! =P

My lats V taper nicely and I NEVER do pullups. I guess it's just genetic for me bro

Well, aren't you just fvcking SPECIAL! lol

Thanks FG

TBH tho i think it comes down to having lots of lats and a small waist.

But GB I know exactly what ur talking about.

Reeds avi is a prime example of exactly the opposite,,, rite?

True Base, big lats and small waist will always = a better look IMO. Yes, Reed's avy is pretty much the exact opposite (although don't get me wrong, I would KILL to have Reed's back) - but even Reed has a bit of 'roundedness' at the top. What makes his look sort of opposite is how low his lats attach - almost at his waistline. I know alot of people desire that look, but I personally would rather they attach higher - to me, it makes the waist look smaller, and gives more of a clear distinction to where the midsection ends and the lats begin. Shit, who am I kidding - i'd be happy to have a wide back, regardless of symmetry - how's that? =P

I always get compliments on the V of my back.

Pull ups and rack pulls helped the most for me, I feel.

Big shoulders help portray the illusion. I dont think I have great shoulders but they work in comparison to my back.

I do both, every back day. Agreed about shoulders, they are the other half of the equation. As luck would have it, God fvcked me on those too, so i'm 0 for 2.

my 20 year old son has the genetics.... wide shoulders, narrow waiste. I have the wide shoulders, but larger at the hip

ya gotta play the cards gawd delt ya, but ya also gotta play em well!

True man, I keep going bust!!!

[D3m3nt3d]

Well, aren't you just fvcking SPECIAL! lol

My momma says I am.

[gbrice75]

My momma says I am.

Mine told me I was the handsomest boy in NJ....

[D3m3nt3d]

Mine told me I was the handsomest boy in NJ....

I believe that

[Knockout_Power]

I never really had a taper, just bulky lats and straight down the obliques. I dont work them at all cause they grow like crazy and look so disproportionate, especially when Im holding extra weight like in this pic

[KINGKONG]

I never really had a taper, just bulky lats and straight down the obliques. I dont work them at all cause they grow like crazy and look so disproportionate, especially when Im holding extra weight like in this pic

No thats def a taper brother..I watched a show on what makes women want a man, just of looks and the the waist to shoulders ratio is a natural turn on for the ladies..You got a nice taper bro!!Be proud!

[gbrice75]

No thats def a taper brother..I watched a show on what makes women want a man, just of looks and the the waist to shoulders ratio is a natural turn on for the ladies..You got a nice taper bro!!Be proud!

Agreed!

Now that I rethink it, maybe the 'taper' is exactly what I DON'T want. A taper is gradual; I am looking for a nearly straight waist/lower half, and then lats that just pop out of nowhere... that's just the look I like.

[gbrice75]

Another example of the look I'm going for...

http://forums.steroid.com/showthread...-these-tonight

[Knockout_Power]

Another example of the look I'm going for...

http://forums.steroid.com/showthread...-these-tonight

minus the acne I'd imagine

[Knockout_Power]

Heres the look Im going for...

[gbrice75]

minus the acne I'd imagine

Yea, lol I can do without it

Heres the look Im going for...

Bro, i'll go for that look any time...

[Knockout_Power]

No doubt, I bet she tastes amazing

[jbm]

the V!

[Tigershark]

Pretty damn perfect v-taper right here.

[KINGKONG]

Pretty damn perfect v-taper right here.

Beautiful, look at the lats on Bruce..Iam just trying for the same thing with another 100-120 pounds added lol..I love Bruce Lee though!

[gbrice75]

BL had a great symmetry, insanely cut, etc. Pack some beef on him and he would've been a beast!!