Bodybuilding Forums

I usually use the pull-up bar at the gym and use a 6” wider than shoulder grip which really blasts my lats… but I have been working out at home with the powetec power cage which has pull-up bars.I think they have got the design wrong the bars start to bend downwards at the ends meaning I can’t get a wider grip than I'm use to and my lats don’t feel like they have worked hard enough. For a big company like powertec why would they use that design instead of the usual design you find in local gyms and equipment.

Gidday, there is poorly designed equipment out there. It really pays to check it, or have someone who knows what to look for check it before buying. Chin bars are one point worth checking. The classic is also gleaming, gripless chrome bars and handles... useless. Onother one to look for is pulldown and rowing attatchments with poor range of movement, especially for taller people. The same applies to all equipment. Some power/spotting racks have poor range of adjustment. Or the benches dont work well with them, limiting exercises you can do. Some benches have a shocking set up for leg extensions/curls. It should be possible to get the axis of rotation lined up with the joints axis of rotation. Also some leg curl set ups put the lower back/hips in a bad/arched/pinched position causing disc stress. Range of motion can be an issue too. Some benches are too narrow and/or flimsy to offer good support, or the design makes for bad positioning, foot bracing when benching etc. Some leg press machines are terribly designed. Pec deck and pressing attatchments can be hilarious. Even supposed top brands have some duds.

The good thing is there is heaps available, prices are coming down. There is some deluxe stuff out there, and it isn't necessarily expensive. It is a bit odd, because often companies make one item that is great, yet another one they make might be useless. Its best to try the things first, if possible.

Found a site that covers the problem with the pull-up bar and how to solve it.

http://www.home-gym-bodybuilding.com/ho ... p-bar.html