Wide Chin Up Question?

[free_spirit]

I have a friend who said he read in some gymnastic source that wide chin up such as:



Is better than a wider chin up like this:



He said, because if you do an imaginary wide grip pull up now with your arms, and pull them back and tense hard, you feel the contraction in your rear delt area more
then do the same but with narrower grip, you'll notice you wont feel it there but you'll feel it lower down your back, therefore better strengthening and sizing of your back.

I personally feel doing the wider is harder, and I feel it's developed my lats nice and wide throughout the years. Also, from what I've seen common from the web and videos, novices to pros and muscle building guides,to do them wider. And because I've done the wide chin up for so long I find it hard to believe that doing it narrower (which is alot easier, i.e, can do more reps and heavy weight) will be better for wider stronger lats development, yet trying what he said, I can feel narrowing it a little will focus the tension on my back for a tighter squeeze of the lats.

Any knowledgable guys/veterans have any insights?

[Older lifter]

IMO, it sounds like many exercises,,,, small variations can develop and target muscles in different ways. I do a month of wide grip with weights and then alternate a month on close grip with weight.

One better that the other, i would not say, each one develops and targets a different muscle area.

Think of it like the incline bench press, you can addjust the angle of the bench in many ways and it will still work the chest but will target different parts more pending angle.

I believe that you need these variations of one kind or another to fully develop any muscle region.

Well thats my 2 cents.....

[stpete]

Interesting....I've always used wide grip myself. But tomorrow is back day so i might give those a try at the end of my workout to see.

[DSM4Life]

The wider your hands, the less the bicept is involved the more back work.