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Wide Grip Chin-Up

A chin-up taken with a wide underhand grip to bias the lats while keeping strong biceps involvement.

BackBodyweightVertical pull
GoLightWeight mediawide-grip-chin-up

Demonstration coming soon

Primary

Lats

Secondary

BicepsRhomboidsMiddle trapeziusCore

Equipment

Bodyweight

Pattern

Vertical pull

Setup

  1. 01Grab a pull-up bar with an underhand grip set clearly wider than shoulder width.
  2. 02Hang at full arm's length with the shoulder blades reaching up.
  3. 03Brace the trunk and set a slight hollow-body position.

Execution

  1. 01Pull the shoulder blades down first, then drive the elbows toward the ribs.
  2. 02Pull until the chin clears the bar.
  3. 03Keep the legs quiet — no kicking or swinging.
  4. 04Lower under control to a full dead hang before the next rep.

Checkpoints

  • -Every rep starts from straight arms at the bottom.
  • -Chin clears the bar without the neck craning.
  • -Elbows drive down and slightly back, not flaring straight out.
  • -Body stays in a controlled line, not swinging.

Common mistakes

  • -Cutting the bottom range and never reaching a dead hang.
  • -Kipping with the hips to get over the bar.
  • -Gripping so wide that elbow or wrist discomfort appears — wide is relative.
  • -Dropping fast from the top instead of lowering under control.

Programming notes

  • -Use 3 to 5 sets, stopping 1 to 2 reps shy of failure; total 15 to 30 quality reps.
  • -Progress with added weight once 10 clean bodyweight reps are consistent.
  • -Rotate grips (chin-up, wide-grip pull-up) across blocks to spread elbow stress.

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