Wide-Grip Pull-Up

The pull-up that builds width — a wider grip biases the outer lats and upper back.

Lats, Upper BackPull-Up BarAdvanced
TARGET MUSCLES

Setup

  1. Grip well outside shoulder-width, palms away.
  2. Dead hang, shoulders set down away from the ears.

How To Do It

  1. Pull until your chin clears the bar, chest leading up.
  2. Drive the elbows down and out.
  3. Lower all the way to a full hang every rep.

Breathing

Exhale pulling up, inhale lowering.

Common Mistakes

  • Short choppy reps — full hang to chin-over, always.
  • Swinging — strict reps build the back; momentum builds nothing.
Coach Sam's cue: Pull your elbows to your lats, not your chin to the bar.

Programming It

GoalSetsRepsRest
Strength3–54–62–3+ min
Muscle3–48–1260–90 sec
Endurance / Conditioning2–315–2030–45 sec

Form guide for educational purposes — not medical advice. New to training or working around an issue? Apply for coaching and get a plan built for your body.