The barbell row is great for building upper back strength and size, and it's also a great accessory lift to improve your deadlift. Here are a few tips and cues:
Start with the bar on the floor. This will make the row have more carryover to the conventional deadlift.
The bar should start directly over your toes. Stay tight and lift the bar about an inch off the ground to begin.
Pretend you're squeezing an orange in each armpit. This will keep your lats properly engaged and keep your upper back in a good position.
A little swing or body english is okay for advanced athletes lifting a lot of weight, but master the strict form first.
If a trainer were to come to us and say he had a method of ab training that would reduce the waist size of anyone in three weeks, we'd ask him what he was selling and then kick him out the door. Luckily, Don Alessi was a fast talker and before we could introduce him to the sidewalk, he'd convinced us that he had some pretty nifty ideas.