Exercise guide

Lat Pulldown

The Lat Pulldown targets the lats and upper back by pulling the bar downward in a controlled vertical motion.

Category
Strength
Difficulty
Intermediate
Movement
Compound
Bodyweight
No
How to

How to do the Lat Pulldown

  1. 01

    Sit at a lat pulldown machine and secure your thighs under the pad.

  2. 02

    Grip the bar slightly wider than shoulder width.

  3. 03

    Sit upright with your chest lifted.

  4. 04

    Pull the bar down toward your upper chest.

  5. 05

    Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the bottom.

  6. 06

    Slowly return the bar to the starting position under control.

Performance tips

Cues that matter

  • Pull your elbows down rather than back
  • Avoid excessive leaning during the pull
  • Control the upward return to maintain tension
Equipment

What you need

Common questions

Frequently asked

What muscles does the Lat Pulldown work?

The Lat Pulldown primarily targets the Back. Supporting muscles include Shoulders, Biceps.

Is the Lat Pulldown a compound or isolation exercise?

The Lat Pulldown is a compound exercise, meaning it works multiple muscle groups and joints in a single movement.

What equipment do I need for the Lat Pulldown?

You need the following equipment: Lat Pull Down.

What difficulty level is the Lat Pulldown?

The Lat Pulldown is rated as intermediate difficulty. Some training experience is helpful for performing this exercise safely.

The adaptive health app

Bring training, nutrition, and recovery into one system.

Sculpt synthesizes every input from your body and your training, then builds the plan. No spreadsheets. No guessing.