A Beginner's Guide To Lat Training

by Bob Myhal

The first thing you should know about the lat is that it is a very large muscle that really behaves almost as if it were three muscles.

The so-called inboard lats, or spinal erectors, which run along-side of the spine primary function is to arch the back

The outboard lats run from the armpit down to the small of the back. They are used to pull the shoulders downward; they also assist in pulling the elbows in towards the sides

Finally, the upper lats which run from the armpit to the spine—in the area under the shoulders—are used to pull the shoulders back and also to swing the elbows outward.

Widening the lats ideally involves thickening both the upper lats and the outboard lats.

In general, intelligently training the upper lats will enhance your width, while training the outboard lats will enhance your fullness. In reality, if you train your upper lats intensely, then you really can't help but hit the outboard lats somewhat, and vice-versa.

Too many beginner and intermediate level trainers do the upper-lat work for the width but neglect the equally effective work for the outboard lats. Because of this, they develop good thickness up top, but the mass and quality of the lats falls off well before the small of the back. Ideally, you want the balanced, extended look of full lat development.

Basically, wide-grip movements will primarily hit the upper lats. This is also pretty much the case with bent rowing (barbell or dumbbell) or seated rowing.

On the other hand, close-grip overhead work will primarily hit the outboard lats; this is particularly true when you use an undergrip or palms up grip. Dips also hit the outboard lats directly. The trouble with dips, of course, is that the secondary muscles (particularly triceps) will often fail before you fully train the lats.

Mass Building Lat Routine For Beginner and Intermediate Level Trainers:

This exercise is a great way to pre-fatigue the lats. Begin by holding the lat pulldown bar in a seated position; I prefer a slightly less than shoulder width grip, but I vary this up quite a bit.

Now lean back a bit and pull the bar down using only the lats. If anything, your elbows should bend just slightly at the very end of the motion. You only want to move the bar about 4-6 inches.

Scapular Rows are a lot like doing the very beginning of a lat pulldown. The difference is you stop completely before the biceps have a chance to kick in. Remember, you’re pulling down with only your lats. You want to and should be able to use fairly heavy weights with this exercise.

I like to do these with a small straight bar or a V-shaped handle on the pulldown cable machine. When I use a straight-bar, I’ll alternate between overhand and underhand grips (though I prefer underhand because I really can isolate the lats without my biceps failing).

Start with your hands directly overhead. Concentrate on pulling down using only the back and lats.

As you pull down lean back slightly so that at the end of the pulldown you are at about a 45 degree angle with the bar hitting at or just below the pecs. You basically want to stick your chest out and arch your back while doing the movement.

I like to do Bent Over Rows freeform with a barbell—sometimes I might use a rowing stand for variation, but I tend not to.

In terms of form, I always try to maintain an arch in my back during the movement.

Sometimes this means that I have to cut down on total poundage a bit, but I’d rather sacrifice a bit of weight for good, effective form that really isolates the mid-back.

With Bent Over Rows, you want to remember that the spot to which you pull the bar somewhat affects the exact portion of the lat that this exercise will hit. In other words, the higher the spot you pull too, the higher in the lat you’re hitting. It’s a general rule, but one that’s worth remembering.

You can grip the bar with either an overhand or underhand grip (I vary it up). Be very careful with heavy weights on this exercise, especially if you’re using an underhand grip. Just ask Dorian Yates (as some of you know, he popped his biceps doing this exercise—watched it roll up his arm like a window shade—and it really hasn’t been the same since. Of course, he was lifting a ridiculous amount of weight at the time).

Use the wide pulldown bar on the lat machine. Be sure to arch your back so that your chest is forward.

Also focus on keeping your head up throughout the movement. If you bring the head and shoulders forward you’ll be take the stress off the lats. I prefer to pull the bar down in front of my body to the mid-chest area. I’ve always found the behind the neck version of the lat pulldown to be unnatural and restricted.

Begin the movement by pulling down with just your lats. As you reach the completion point, lean back slightly and really concentrate on pushing your shoulder blades together.

Check out more of my great back exercises.

Bob Myhal is the author of dozens of training reports, hot-selling courses, and the explosive new Ultimate Muscle Mass Training Program---how to pack on 20lbs of muscle in 12 weeks!