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Workouts

The 10 Best Back Exercises For Men

by Vidur Saini Updated by GI Team on Feb 13, 2023

An Old School Back Workout For a Wider and Thicker Back
This post may contain affiliate links (disclosure policy).

The Ultimate Back Exercises

A shredded back is what separates the men from the boys. A good back training session should be as brutal as a hardcore leg day. You should be running on fumes by the end of your back workouts.

If you want a cobra back, you need to constantly shock your muscles with different exercises. Your back is one of the biggest muscle groups and you need to target it from every angle for optimal results. We have put together the list of back exercises you can try during your next workout.

1. Pull-Ups

Pull-ups are one of the best back workouts. Arnold Schwarzenegger swore by them and performed 50 reps of pull-ups at the beginning of his back workouts. If bodyweight pull-ups are too easy for you, try the weighted version.

2. Seal Rows

Seal rows are an isolation exercise which works your lats. Lie facedown on a bench and perform barbell rows. Doing so will keep you from using your secondary muscles and momentum to lift the weights. You can also perform this exercise on an incline bench to target your lower lats.

3. Pull-Overs

Pull-overs are one of the most underutilized exercises. This exercise is incredibly effective in building a V-taper. Keep your elbows locked out throughout the movement and maintain a full range of motion.

4. T-Bar Rows

Rowing exercises like the T-bar rows help in building the thickness in your back while exercises like pull-ups and lat pull-downs help with broadening your back. If you don’t have an access to a T-bar row machine at your gym, use a barbell for this exercise.

5. Lat Pulldowns

Lat pulldown is a textbook back exercise. It is great at targeting your lats. Most people make the mistake of going too heavy on this exercise. Make sure you sit straight and don’t use momentum to bring the bar down.

6. One Arm Cable Rows

Using cables in your exercises help you in maintaining constant tension on your target muscles. One arm cable rows will help you in isolating your lats. You can perform this exercise while standing or seated.

7. Barbell Rows

Barbell rows are a compound exercise and will help in building muscle mass and strength in your back. Keep an arch in your back while performing this exercise. Bring the bar to your lower abs at the top of the movement.

8. Wide Grip Seated Cable Rows

Wide grip seated cable rows will add to the width of your back. Don’t lean back while performing this exercise. You could also try the underhand grip or a different cable attachment.

9. Dumbbell Rows

Dumbbell rows are incredibly effective at building size, definition, and thickness in your lats. You can perform the single-arm or the double-arm variation of this exercise. Using lifting gear like lifting straps can help you lift more weights as it eliminates your grip.

10. Deadlifts

We saved the best for the last. Deadlift is a compound exercise which should be a part of your back workouts. It is best to perform this exercise at the beginning of your workouts when you’re fresh.


Which is your favorite back exercise? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.

About Vidur Saini

Vidur is a fitness junky who likes staying up to date with the fitness industry and loves publishing his opinions for everyone to see.

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