Barbell Rows Are A Terrible Back Exercise… (3 FAR Superior Alternatives)
This might sound a bit weird considering I’ve done this lift every week since March of this year, but barbell rows are a terrible choice if you want to build your back.
With all the options out there like machines, cables, and even dumbbells, there really is no reason to do barbell rows at all.
While I suffer through this sub-par movement until I expand my home gym in the coming years, I figured I’d talk about why they’re no good and what to do instead.
Why Barbell Rows Are The Inferior Choice
I should start this section off by saying this exercise isn’t all that bad if you do it right:
Consistent and stable 45+ degree hip angle
Thumbless grip imagining pulling your elbows past your hip
No hip drive or “body English” or cheat reps
I’ve been doing this lift for years and I still mess up my form more often than squats, deadlifts, overhead press, pull ups, and bench press combined.
Your average hotel row machine will hit the back more directly and at a better angle with less focus on all of this stuff.
