Back to library

Exercise Library

Lever Reverse Grip Lateral Pulldown

A plate-loaded pulldown taken with an underhand grip, shifting emphasis to the lower lats and biceps while keeping the elbows tight in front of the body.

BackMachineVertical pull
GoLightWeight medialever-reverse-grip-lateral-pulldown

Demonstration coming soon

Primary

Latissimus dorsi

Secondary

BicepsRhomboidsLower trapezius

Equipment

Machine

Pattern

Vertical pull

Setup

  1. 01Lock the thighs under the pads and sit tall on the seat.
  2. 02Grip the handles underhand at about shoulder width.
  3. 03Extend the arms fully overhead and lift the chest.
  4. 04Set the shoulder blades down before starting.

Execution

  1. 01Pull the handles down toward the upper chest with elbows tracking in front of the ribs.
  2. 02Keep the chest tall and a slight backward lean.
  3. 03Squeeze the lats at the bottom for a full second.
  4. 04Return the handles under control to the overhead stretch.

Checkpoints

  • -Elbows stay in front of the body, close to the ribs.
  • -The wrists stay neutral rather than curling at the bottom.
  • -The torso lean stays slight and consistent, not a rowing swing.
  • -Full elbow extension is reached at the top of every rep.

Common mistakes

  • -Swinging the torso backward to move heavier plates.
  • -Curling the handles with the biceps and wrists.
  • -Stopping the stretch short at the top.
  • -Letting the shoulders roll forward at the bottom squeeze.

Programming notes

  • -Use 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps for lower lat emphasis.
  • -Expect to handle slightly more load than a wide overhand pulldown; progress conservatively.
  • -Pairs well with a wide grip pulldown in the same session for complete lat coverage.

Related exercises

Almost there

Coming soon to iOS & Android

GoLightWeight is in the final stretch. Free to download, no account required to start.

Coming soonApp Store
Coming soonGoogle Play