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

[gbrice75]

Didn't really know where else to post this... where better then the lounge, where every reply is pure quality!

I like most people on this board am forever chasing that V-taper... but I notice some people have not only the V-taper, but it's also nice and rounded at the top. Is this just genetics, or is there a way to specifically go for this look?

It's hard to explain, and if I can find some examples, i'll post pics. But here's the regular V taper, which i'd STILL be happy with:

\......./

Here's what i'm interested in:

(..........)
\......../

Hopefully i'm getting my point across. Let me know what you think!

[bjpennnn]

are we talking about the lines above your d1ck or are you talking about having massive lats go to a small waist.

[gbrice75]

Sorry, this sh!t won't format properly, and i'm not much of an artist if you can't tell.

LoL BJ, talking about lats.

[bjpennnn]

For me pull ups really do the trick man. One time i cycled on back day i would do ten sets of ten pullups ha, my lats grew.

[Kawigirl]

I think its genetics....in the male gene to boot.

I don't think I've ever seen woman with such distinction in lats.

And, fyi...that V taper in lower abdomen....yummy!!!

[MBMETC]

pull ups and bent over rows i got some decent wings but lack that rounded area under the armpit because i hate pull-ups

[bjpennnn]

kawigirl got it genetics.

[Hazard]

I think I could get mine like that with more mass lol..... I'm tryin like hell.....

~Haz~

[Hazard]

This....



~Haz~

[DSM4Life]

Im weird (i know go figure) but i get the lower V when i lose weight. My weight gets smaller but my ab/oblique stay the same size which creates the V.

[Hazard]

~Haz~

[BgMc31]

I think its genetics. I had a similar build during my playing days (when my body fat was in the 9-11% range, weighing between 255-265). But of course once I retired and got into the strength game, I lost it. But even though I'm a gut monster now, my lats and upper back is still a lot wider than my waist. I've seen a ton of freakish muscular bodies (both natural and not) and I've seen the difference. Its gotta be genetics, but I'm no expert.

[Bojangles69]

Just like bjpenn said for me it was pullups (along with genetics of course, genetics plays a role in everything imo). I'm a small guy, lean like BJ but a bit less muscle too (I like it that way which is why I cycle very seldom).

I learned this in prison when I saw dudes with backs that were ENORMOUSLY developed, and had noticed none of them ever really did normal back
exercises like seated row/lat pull down and what not. These guys would do calesthetics all day long at an intense and fast pace, and I was shocked
how quick some of them grew (theres really no steroids in prison at all like people think, too much security). A lot of their workouts would go like
this: 1 set 10 pullups, 1 set 25 pushups, 1 set 15-20 dips, 1 set 40-50 situps. Then rotate. I could never do more than 25 sets before I wanted
to die. But I would see some guys out there doing that shit for hours on end, it was pretty insane. And since all the majority of them did for their
backs was pullups, and on the street I saw guys doing everything and nowhere as big, I definitely agree pullups just make your back explode like
nothing else. It also has a lot to do with intensity too because I vomited more from prison workouts than anywhere else in the world. People just
push you hard and theres a lot of pent up aggression, so you work just as hard.

[Standby]

i know what gb is talking about im gunna try to find a pic of the 2 side by side i saw it at the flex pro this year

[Standby]

here see the 3rd guy compared to the other 3? is this what your talking about gb? how its way more round then tapered??

[stack_it]

I think you should find a smaller pic sb. That ones too big to work out the details.

[stack_it]

I think it's got a little to do with both. We all have the muscle so it can be attained but it just might not be as easy for some. Pullups really made my lats grow.

[gbrice75]

All the pics are sort of what i'm talking about... I've actually seen really nice backs where it starts low as a normal V but as it moves up and widens, it 'balls' out at the top - exactly what MB said, right under the armpit.

I think it must be genetics mainly, because i've seen otherwise very well developed guys who have the 'straight' V taper without the 'balls' under the pits.

Man, I ALWAYS do pull ups on back day, always. I've done wide, narrow, supinated grip, etc but can't seem to target that area, or it simply won't grow. What detracts even more from my V-taper is the fact that I have a thick waist, wide hips (for a guy) and a big ass (my father always told me my real father was a black man lol), so i'm screwed in every department.

[gbrice75]

here see the 3rd guy compared to the other 3? is this what your talking about gb? how its way more round then tapered??

I notice here what's causing the 3rd guy to stand out is that his lats attach much higher then the others - particularly compared to the guy on his right.

[Standby]

I think you should find a smaller pic sb. That ones too big to work out the details.

what are you talking about? it perfect size on my computer

[Standby]

I notice here what's causing the 3rd guy to stand out is that his lats attach much higher then the others - particularly compared to the guy on his right.

ya but they are way more "bally" in front pics to. ill try to get them

[Standby]

here is a front

[stack_it]

what are you talking about? it perfect size on my computer

Just realized it was an attachment lol

Smartass comment = fail

[gbrice75]

Believe it or not, it would probably be easier for me to point out on guys who lift but aren't professional bodybuilders. I'll never look like any of these guys, nor would I want to. There are guys right on this forum - i'm gonna head over to the members pics section and will link an example of each if I can find them...

[Standby]

Just realized it was an attachment lol

Smartass comment = fail

hahaha loser

[Standby]

Believe it or not, it would probably be easier for me to point out on guys who lift but aren't professional bodybuilders. I'll never look like any of these guys, nor would I want to. There are guys right on this forum - i'm gonna head over to the members pics section and will link an example of each if I can find them...

do it up, im curious now

[gbrice75]

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

[MBMETC]

Brice check out mikexl avi or is it mikexxl I think he's got exactly what your talking about

[gbrice75]

Brice check out mikexl avi or is it mikexxl I think he's got exactly what your talking about

Bingo, you got it! It's MikeXXL

[Standby]

looks to me like you have shown me someone who works out there lats and someone who doesnt lol. maybe you need to find a new way to hit them better gb

[Standby]

im pretty sure mikexxl hold like a 25" waist at 200lbs lol he doesnt count

[gbrice75]

looks to me like you have shown me someone who works out there lats and someone who doesnt lol. maybe you need to find a new way to hit them better gb

I could buy that, but like i've said - i've seen this same look on bigger more developed guys (the lats/V-taper was also wider, but still not rounded at the top), so it's hard to believe these guys work everything but lats...

[Standby]

I could buy that, but like i've said - i've seen this same look on bigger more developed guys (the lats/V-taper was also wider, but still not rounded at the top), so it's hard to believe these guys work everything but lats...

well im guessing its genetics like between my tricep and the kid i work out withs my upper are is short so every thing looks bigger. when i hold me arm out straight the bottom of my balled up tricep to my elbow is like 3 fingers his is like his whole hand. makes mine look better but he can never have it because its not how he was born, get what im trying to say? lol

[stack_it]

well im guessing its genetics like between my tricep and the kid i work out withs my upper are is short so every thing looks bigger. when i hold me arm out straight the bottom of my balled up tricep to my elbow is like 3 fingers his is like his whole hand. makes mine look better but he can never have it because its not how he was born, get what im trying to say? lol

So what your saying is his is bigger then your 3" but since yours is short it gives it the appearance of more girth....

[Standby]

So what your saying is his is bigger then your 3" but since yours is short it gives it the appearance of more girth....

no mine is actually bigger either way just looks better cause it doesnt have a long skinny useless section lol

[KINGKONG]

Bit of both..I got friends that don't even lift and have the prettiest V-taper around, but you can def improve your taper by bodybuilding..

[stack_it]

I have that long skinny useless section. From the peak of my horseshoe to the elbow is about 6" or more.

[HitIt]

both (or either)

[Standby]

I have that long skinny useless section. From the peak of my horseshoe to the elbow is about 6" or more.

see i just measured mine since im at work and its not even 3 full inches...

[stack_it]

see i just measured mine since im at work and its not even 3 full inches...