How To: Do wide inverted pull ups with hold on a Smith machine

Learn how to do Smith wide inverted pull ups with a hold at the top. Presented by Real Jock Gay Fitness Health & Life.

Benefits
This inverted variation on the pull-up works the back muscles—the lats and traps specifically. The addition of the hold at the top makes your lats and traps work that much harder.

Muscles Worked
Back (lats and traps)

Starting Position
Set the Smith machine bar so that it is on the fourth, fifth, or sixth height setting (the bar height will be below your chest height and above your belly button), depending on your individual height relative to the Smith machine. With your feet on the floor in a wide stance in front of the Smith machine, position your upper body underneath the bar of the Smith machine, holding the bar a little wider than shoulder-width apart with your palms facing down. Hang from the bar with your arms extended fully, and allow only the heels of your feet to touch the floor. Keep your body straight—don't let your butt sag down.

Exercise
1. From the starting position, lift your upper body up until your chest touches the bar. Focus on retracting your shoulder blades down and back and opening up your chest in order to maintain proper posture and to activate your lower/middle traps.
2. When your chest touches the bar, hold for three seconds. Be sure to maintain the flex and breathe during this hold.
3. Reverse the motion and lower yourself down until you are back at the starting position. Do 12 reps for your first set and 10 reps for your second set. Note that the father your feet are under the machine, the tougher the pull-up will be, because the body weight you will be lifting will be heavier. You should mark where your feet are for your first set, and then scoot your feet further out from the bar for your second set to make it tougher.