Back and Lat Machines

There are three main types of back machines that give you a major boost in posterior chain development:

• Lat Pulldown Machines: A classic machine in any commercial gym, the lat pulldown machine is the most popular machine for back exercises other than a simple pull-up bar. This machine can either have a weight stack and a pulldown bar or a place for plates and two individual handles above. (Or a combination of the two.)
• Seated Row Machines: This machine includes a low cable attachment and a long bench to perform seated horizontal rows. It’s crucial to work both the vertical and the horizontal portions of your back, hitting all angles of your lats and even your traps.
• T-Bar Row Machine: T-bar rows are tremendous for packing on serious weights and gaining middle and upper back strength. With a T-bar row machine, you rest your chest on a pad and your feet on a platform, grab the T-bar that’s situated below your body, and row up. It’s like a renegade row, except you use both hands and you can put on some serious plate weight.
• Dual-Function Back Machines: It’s the best of both worlds. This machine includes a horizontal row cable attachment, as well as a pulldown section. Within seconds, you can perform a set of lat pulldowns, let go of the pulldown bar, grab the D ring, and perform seated rows. If you want to work all areas of your upper back, a dual-function machine is the ticket.

Now, there are two versions of weights: plate-loaded and weight stacks. This isn’t just found in lat pulldown machines, but also seated row and dual-function machines. And there are other back exercises you can do with simple machinery. For instance, you can use a traditional barbell, stick one end into the corner of a room, and perform T-bar rows with plates on the other end and a D ring. And, of course, there’s always pull-up bars.

It’s time to widen the frame, build up the back, and achieve a healthier posture with these back exercise machines.