The dumbbell row builds big backs and vice-like grips. It'll even improve your posture. Sure, vanity muscles like pecs and arms are impressive, but a wide, thick back is the real hallmark of a high-performance body. That's what makes heads turn.
The good news? You don't need any machines or complicated exercises to score one; all you need is the row. Here are the five best dumbbell variations.
The Kroc row was created to fix grip issues on a deadlift, but it does more than that. It adds thickness and width to the upper back.
It's a heavy, high-rep row designed to demolish your grip and build upper-back strength. While your technique might not be as "pristine" as a typical dumbbell row, it shouldn't be sloppy.
Here are some pointers:
Chest-supported rows are an incredible exercise because the bench prevents you from cheating while helping you maximize the quality of each muscular contraction. By comparison, single-arm rows often resemble a flustered teenager trying to pull-start a dormant lawnmower.
Before jumping into the 10-6-10 method specifically, keep the following tips in mind with all chest supported rows:
The 10-6-10 method has three phases:
Phase One (isometric contraction): Hold for 10 seconds at the beginning of the set to maximize your mind-muscle connection. Squeeze as hard as you can.
Phase Two (deliberate reps): Do 6 controlled reps. Try lowering the weight in 4 seconds (slow). Don't pause on the bottom of the lift with your arms extended. Lift in one second (fast). Finish by squeezing your muscles at the top of the lift for a second.
Phase Three (overload partials): Do 10 partial reps to overload the tissues. You've already hammered the mind-muscle connection and used a slow tempo to create tons of metabolic stress. The 10 partial reps at the end finish off your muscles, creating tons of overload directly on the tissues to help you grow.
You'll never maximize muscle growth in a muscle you can't feel. It's crucial to use methods that maximize the mind-muscle connection. The iso-dynamic row ladder fits perfectly.
Here's what to do:
Pick a weight you can do for 8 reps and push for a 5-1 countdown ladder. If you complete the set, you'll be using your 8 rep-weight to do 15 total reps. Do two sets of this and call it a day.
The "J" row is a slight tweak on the classic dumbbell row to optimize the contraction of your lats.
Muscle fiber anatomy is often overlooked. Specifically, which direction muscle fibers run. To maximize the development of a muscle, train it in alignment with muscle-fiber orientation.
Your lats run from your shoulder down to your lumbar spine in a diagonal fashion. To get the most out of your row, allow the weight to travel in front of your body in a "J" pattern. This stretches and engages the hard-to-reach fibers that reside up near your shoulder.
So, where does the band come in? The band provides additional resistance at the peak contraction of your lats when the weight is close to your torso. The goal here isn't to make the exercise significantly harder. Instead, the band (and the tension it creates at the end range) serves as a reminder to squeeze your lats.
When you add resistance from a band, you'll maximize the quality of the muscular contraction at the opposite end of the movement as well.
The band-resisted J-row is deceptive. Use 70-80% of your normal weight. The goal isn't to go as heavy as possible. It's to extend your range of motion and improve the contraction in your lats.
Most one-arm row variations emphasize the lats. Batwing rows emphasize the rhomboids, which are crucial for optimizing posture and rear delts.
Your rhomboids are primarily responsible for retracting your shoulder blades. Most lifters have shoulder blades that are "stuck" to their rib cage because of poor thoracic mobility and sedentary lifestyles.
The batwing row teaches you to optimize shoulder retraction, helping you improve mobility and stability by reinforcing the movement of the scapulae with a muscular contraction.