Tip: Lat Activation Drill

Many people struggle to fully engage their lats with pull-ups and pulldowns. Remember, if you can't feel it, you can't build it!

Before each set of pull-ups or pulldowns, do 3-5 reps of this lat activation drill:

Loop a band around a chin-up bar. Don't use too much tension. You want just enough to effectively activate, not fatigue, your lats.
Depending on the height of the bar (and you), you may need to go from your knees.
Slip your elbow in the band loop so the band is just above your elbow.
Reach your opposite hand across your body so you're touching your lat. This tactile stimulus can help to further increase muscle activation.
Drive your elbow down until you feel some good tension. Hold for a few counts and focus on squeezing your lat as hard as you can.
Rest about 15 seconds and start your set of pull-ups or pulldowns.

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