How to do it
Drive your elbows down toward your ribs rather than pulling with your hands.
- 1
Sit at the pulldown machine with your knees secured under the pads.
- 2
Grasp the bar with an underhand grip, hands shoulder-width apart.
- 3
Lean back slightly and pull the bar down to your chest.
- 4
Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the bottom of the movement.
- 5
Slowly return the bar to the starting position with control.
- 6
Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Expert tip
Maintain a neutral spine and engage your core throughout the exercise. Use a thumbless grip to better target your lats.
Common mistakes
- ✕Excessive backward lean during the pull
- ✕Using momentum to jerk the weight down
- ✕Shrugging the shoulders toward the ears