Question Re: Cormier Rows (and other lat exercises)

[HKDave]

1) Cormier Rows: How do you guys manage to do what the illustration in the Workouts section of the site? I mean, when I do it, I have to bend my waist and lean back to act as a fulcrum/counterweight so I don't get pulled towards the stack. Is this OK?

Also, the illustration says pull to eye level. It's very un-natural for me (is it my height? I'm 5'7), to pull to eye's height, so I pull towards my chin instead. I feel a better squeeze.

All other back exercises.

Whether I do light weight or heavy weight, I can't seem to "feel" the muscles being worked directly. Unlike, let's say, arms, chest, legs etc.

I understand that the back is very complex, but I hope that I can do the exercises in a form where I can feel squeezes and "flexing" like it occurs with other parts like the lower back when doing hyperextensions for example.

Will back development NOT occur until grip strength (and arm strength) no longer feels "taxed" during pulling movements?

[Mr BJ]

I always try to concentrate on feeling the stretch at the eccentric portion of the rep during back exercises.
Maybe this will help.

[MansonOzz]

A tip for getting into the mind/muscle connection is to choose a light weight, close your eyes, and envision the muscles contracting as you move the weight.

Also, use a thumbless grip (wrap your thumb over the bar) and focus on pulling with your lats and rear delts - NOT your biceps & forearms. This is commonly referred to as "wrapping your thumbs".

[HKDave]

Good point. I did my back workout last friday with relatively low weight for width exercises such as cormier, pulldowns etc. but high-slow reps, then explosive +, slow neg for rowing and inner back exercises with heavy weights, and for the first time in years, I felt major DOMS on my back /forum/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[monkeyboy007]

as per the mind-musc connection - i know what you mean.. for me it was a case of going lighter and 'feeling it' (thanks for the no thumb tip, though!)

on chins/pulls - i really started feeling it once i started going as slowly as possible and concentrating on form. this will prob mean a loss of a couple of reps - but the intensity is highter.

..oh hyperextension and close grip pulldowns - they are real easy to feel out