When can you start weight Chin & Pull up?

**asoe209** · 06-02-2012 10:01 AM

Would like to ask your advice on when it is the best time to start doing weighted chins & pull ups?

Should you be able to do a cretin number of body weight 1st before moving to weighted?

Or can you just go for weighted at any point and increase reps from there?

My Chins and Pulls are both below 10 reps

and drop on about 1 reps per set on about a min rest. But I really want too progress in both forms.

**Elvis** · 06-02-2012 10:28 AM

I switched at 20 reps of bodyweight, and in retrospect this was too high. If I were doing it again I'd probably have not gone past 15.

You could do the first set weighted. Reps and sets for chin-ups are no different to any other exercise. I aim to be in the 5-8 rep range for 3 sets.

Your biggest problem is 1 rep sets are hurting the volume you can do. I think you'd be better off taking a bigger rest between sets. Also I'd concentrate on shoulder width chin-ups until you can get your volume up.

**Dolphinski** · 06-02-2012 10:41 AM

Agreed, I switched to weighted at 15 x BW iirc.

**Zeigler** · 06-02-2012 10:49 AM

When you can do 10-15, but for 2-3 sets, not just 1.

**asoe209** · 06-02-2012 10:50 AM

oh so when it comes to weighted you don't need to go into higher rep ranges. so with that being the case it would be ok to start doing them just using lighter weight and increasing as normal.

Wops just seen the other posts, may be a little while off that then.

**George641** · 06-02-2012 10:51 AM

I switched at 11 chinups, and finding the weight increase up to about 20kg made little difference on a rep range of 4-7. Quite weird, I mean it is harder but not MUCH harder than just bodyweight to how you'd imagine it. 20kg+ is where im invisiging the challenge. Just about to get a belt as holdin dumbells between my legs are starting to be a factor now.

**asoe209** · 06-02-2012 10:55 AM

Yeah i need to get my self a belt, I did try a few a couple of weeks back before I took a break and using a back back aint the best in between the legs was just wrong for me.

**Mart001** · 06-02-2012 01:02 PM

I never even reached 7+ reps and switched to 5s adding wieght linear fashion, I could never get over 3x7reps so switched, I dont see why it matters, problem is if your adding BW wieght also, so you may gain a pound or two in a week then its harder to increase the reps, they may go down but ratio wise your still stronger which is the problem maybe. I've learnt pull/chin ups also work well with frequent excersising, also volume is important. If your aiming for 3x15reps=45reps total so instead of working 3X reps to failiure like 8,6,5 do 3 reps on the minute for a count of 45reps so on the min for 15mins then change it up to 4reps every 1.5/2 mins etc to get volume in, its working for me.

**Zeigler** · 06-02-2012 03:09 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by Mart001

I dont see why it matters

Well, for the same reason its stupid to start benching when you cant do 20 push ups with good form.

Each to their own of course, but I'd bet that someone who cant do 15 BW chin ups, but does low rep weighted chin ups, is compromising on form and technique somewhat.

**Waterfield** · 06-02-2012 03:12 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by Zeigler

Well, for the same reason its stupid to start benching when you cant do 20 push ups with good form.

Each to their own of course, but I'd bet that someone who cant do 15 BW chin ups, but does low rep weighted chin ups, is compromising on form and technique somewhat.

Nah, hurts my hands after doing so much bar work so I keep to under 5 chins weighted and 8 for a warm up. All the way up, pause, all the way down, pause. No compromise, it's just personal preference such is everything.