Pullups Vs Pulldowns

[puMPed_GuNs]

These two exercises appear to be extremely similiar. Are there any significant differences or advantages to each?

[Vlad]

http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/backanatomy2.php

[KitXXIII]

The advantage I feel in pullups is that they are more challenging than pulldowns.

[DieselMofo20x]

pullups are definetely more hardcore than pulldowns. They are one of the only exercises that are extremely difficult using just your own bodyweight. They incorporate many different muslce groups and when done correctly can give you a huge back. Pulldowns are always good too but you always see people cheating in the gym when doing them. I love seeing all those ego lifters in there who will swing the weight and bring theyre back all out of proportion losing good form. They are very good though at widening you up. Every few weeks you should switch between the two exercises. (dont forget to switch up the grip too)

[PainMan]

I find a significant difference between the two. Pull ups are defintely a better exercise to do. Pull ups are like "free weights" for the lats instead of the "machine" based pull downs. More stabilizer muscles are used in pull ups and they are generally harder to do.

I think you'll notice a difference in strength and size development if you do pull ups over pull downs as your primary lat exercise. Pull downs can be effective in supersets or as a final exercise at the end of your routine to get some extra burn. But, I'd go with pull ups as the main exercise.