Wide Grip Row - Instructions, Variations & Alternatives

Muscles involved

Also known as

• Wide Grip Bent Over Row

How to perform

1. Set up & Starting position (bent over)
   Hold the weight in front of you with a grip wider than shoulder width, arms fully extended. Keep your back, head and neck straight.

2. Concentric phase
   Drag the weight back toward your chest - keep elbows away from your body at around 45 degree angle - until elbows reach your side or slightly behind.

3. Isometric hold (optional) - Keep your back straight and chest out squeezing your shoulder blades together, hold for a second.

4. Eccentric phase
   Slowly extend your arms back to the starting position and repeat.

Although the Wide Grip Row does allow you to focus more on the upper back, changing the hand grip can affect the intensity of the muscles worked: an underhand grip place more load on your lats and lower traps, while an overhand or hammer grip isolates the posterior deltoid and middle trapezius.

Exercise Alternatives

• Seated Wide Grip Row
• Inverted Row
• Rear Delt Row
• Close Grip Row
• Face Pull