Can I get a form check or does anyone see something I can do different? I feel like I’ve stalled out on my back progress.

Flip your hat around. Backwards baseball hat boosts gains by 10%. Few know this.

This is true.. I actually did but the bill put a shadow down my back and I couldn’t see what was going on so I flipped.

Those are slow, controlled reps with a good squeeze and elbow drive. I tell people having trouble doing pulldowns or rows to remember, your hands are just hooks, they don't lift the weight they just hold it. Let your back do the lifting and focus on the elbow drive down or back.

Great tips Joey! Love the positivity from you. Thank you bro

When you lean back let the low back round a little bit more Should feel more like a crunch (a small one) Arching the back also squeezes the scaps together, so that’s why you feel more traps. You may have to lower the weight

This is what I’m looking for. Everyone saying lift more weight is driving me nuts.. I’ve never heard of leaning forward like a crunch at the bottom. I’ve always heard the opposite, keep you low back arched and erectors engaged. I will definitely give this a try. Thank you for the advice!

It’s really to keep you “neutral” I’m sure you’ve seen people lean back so much the finish position looks like a row instead of a pull down And too much rounded and your shoulders will be forward. Have to find the sweet spot

Thank you so much!

Your humeruses are in the scapular plane ✅ First few reps, you transition well from that "unhitching out of the dead hang" gliding right into the pull-down. Sweet. I think in the later reps as fatigue builds you show at slight alteration towards *starting to* use the upper...

This is great input. Thank you for taking the time to write this all out, I appreciate it!!

My ADHD impulsivity comes out 99% verbally, so, "No problem, man." I used to over-do the upper traps to finish the rep. It was terrible until I learned the "pull through the elbows" cue.

You’re definitely on to something because I know my first 4-5 reps feel really good and in the groove so to speak. Then as you said when I fatigue weird shit happening that I can’t quite put my finger on

Peak form. Unfortunately you’re limited to using slightly lighter weight and less intensity without a leg lock. I suggest using a one arm variation here, eliminates the need for a leg lock as the weight for 1 arm is lighter and more ROM. Keep at it!

You’re probably right.

Do half reps at higher intensity and vol > Start every rep in the latter half of your current rep > Arm angle should never breach 45 degrees > Last set superset a hold for as long as you can with arms almost straight (weight closest to the stack as possible) Work on this for 6 weeks Should explode your progress

Interesting approach. Thanks

I see gray hair. Be happy your back still works

I have plenty of gray hair.. Started coming in young though, mid 20’s. Just glad I still have all my hair.

More weighted pull ups has never been the wrong answer.

They are elite. I little tough in a home gym though

Up the testosterone and hgh?

Lift heavier. You want progress right?? Lift heavier

More grunting. And you need to jerk violently and quickly.

As the bar comes down push your chest up towards the bar, then hold that position for maybe 2 seconds

Have you considered talking smack to all the biggest guys at the gym? They’ll be rooting for you to fail so that should give an extra edge of motivation.

I’ll need to find a new gym

Retract your scapula before every rep....will feel it on a different level

If your thighs aren't held down you'll never pull harder than body weight. Lock yourself in and you make a big jump forward.

lean back more and do lengthen partials

More peds will do it

Not the route I’m looking but thanks anyways

Looks solid from here chief

I feel like I’m getting a lot of trap and not as much lat

A little more leaning back always worked for me to take the traps out of it. I started doing rows on an incline bench but with my arms pulling where they're even with my traps to get more trap activation. With a lat pull down I lean back a bit more then you are here and really really let the negative be the focus

Okay.. I’ll play around with that idea. Thanks bro!

Let me know what you think of it

@JewBastard18 Really? Add to the strech and not hold the concentric (squeeze)?

Shift your thinking to your lower lats...pull only with the lower lats.

You're just fishing for compliments for your handsome back, silly.

Duh

Keep tension on the lats, like half reps between, truly rips them. Also, I’ve had a lot of progress with drop sets, heaviest until failure, drop 5 times down

Do narrow grip to engage the lats more

I don’t know about “more” but narrow grip pull downs are elite

I switched to focusing on pull ups and made a lot of gains in my 40s. I recommend it to anyone.

Keep your elbows in front of the body

Keep doing what you’re doing man. You look great.

Appreciate it bro

Think of it as having multiple steps instead of a one pull movement. Relax, full stretch/fully extend your arms at the top. First movement is scapular retraction, reverse shrug, then engage the lats/biceps to complete the movement. Repeat.

beautiful form

Your form is great. Your back is super defined. I fear you may have some unrealistic expectations if you feel your back progress is “stalling”. If you are looking for more muscle definition, cut some body fat by dropping 200-300 calories (assuming you’re eating a good amount already) If you want more size in general, be in a surplus and lift as heavy as you can.

Stalling out on back progress = more pull ups and bent over dumbbell rows with high weight

ramp up test dosage

Bruh…..BRB….let me find the video.

Less reps, more weight, more sets.

Face your hands forward not sideways, slightly lean back but not in the lift just to get a deeper stretch. Just my thoughts, once I shifted to the facing forward grip it felt like a better contraction

calisthenics for back is best bet to get it shredded

I don’t want to get shredded yet. Right in the middle of a bulk

How many sets? First thought is to go heavier and do 6-7 reps for 2 sets