It takes more than strong arms to do a pull-up. And if you regularly crush your strength workouts or HIIT routines but still can’t seem to get your chin above the bar, you’re not alone. Here’s how to prep for getting your pull-up game on.
If you’ve already found a workout you like, but it includes pull-ups as one of the moves, you can sub in any of these alternative moves below, which are organized by skill level.
Or, if you’re working toward the specific goal of mastering a pull-up, first do the moves in the “advanced” section. Once you’ve nailed those, use our “pull-up progression” section.
And keep in mind: Though we’ve broken these down by skill level, starting with the beginner moves and working your way up is a great strategy for anyone, regardless of your fitness level.
1. Dumbbell holds
Standing with feet shoulder-width apart and arms at your sides, hold a heavy dumbbell in each hand. Maintain perfect posture and engage your biceps (avoid locking your arms).
Hold for at least 30 seconds. If you can’t hold for 30 seconds yet, use a lighter weight. Rest for 60 seconds. Repeat 3 times.
Pro tip: To build even more strength in your grip, hold the head of a light dumbbell (instead of the dumbbell bar) in each hand for at least 30 seconds.
2. Timed hangs
With hands facing away from your body, grab hold of a pull-up bar, keeping your abs tight. Hang with straight arms and feet off the ground for 10 seconds.
Think about internally rotating your shoulders and pressing them down (not letting them up around your neck) to set your shoulder blades. Focus on using your back muscles to keep shoulder blades (scapula) in a level position. Repeat 5 times.
3. Scap-ups
Hang from a pull-up bar with hands facing away from body and feet off the ground. Press shoulders down and gently squeeze shoulder blades together. Release back to a normal hang with shoulder blades level and apart. Repeat 15 times.
Pro tip: Practice this move before hanging from the bar by imagining someone has a finger on your spine between your shoulder blades. Squeeze that finger using your shoulder blades. Your shoulders will go back slightly. Focus on using your back, not just your shoulders.
4. Prone bat wings
Lie facedown on an incline bench, with head dangling over the edge. Hold a dumbbell in each hand. Keep one leg on each side of the bench, knees loosely bent and relaxed.
With elbows close to your body, pull up dumbbells (as though you’re rowing) by squeezing shoulder blades together. The dumbbells should be in line with your ribcage or waist (not armpits). Hold for 10 seconds at the top of your row. Repeat 5 times.
5. Plank
Place hands on floor, directly under shoulders, and legs straight behind you with feet hip-width apart (at the top of a push-up position).
Engage abs and keep body straight from head to toe (don’t hike your hips). Hold for 60 seconds. Release. Repeat 3 times.
6. Hollow hold bananas
Lie faceup on the floor, with legs straight and arms stretched overhead. Keeping your low back flat to the ground, activate abs and lift your arms, head, and legs off the floor. Hold for 15 seconds. Repeat 5 times.
7. Supine cable pull-down
Lie faceup on an incline bench with legs away from a cable machine, knees relaxed and feet resting on the floor. Grab hold of the cable overhead.
Keeping arms straight (but not locked), squeeze shoulder blades together and pull the cable overhead and down toward your chest. Slowly return the cable to starting position. Repeat 15 times.
8. Plate pinch
Stack two or more small weight plates together with the smooth sides facing out. Standing in a relaxed position with arms at your sides, squeeze them together between your thumb and fingers for at least 30 seconds.
If you can’t hold for 30 seconds, try using lighter weights. Rest for 60 seconds, then repeat 3 times.
9. Kettlebell bottom-up press
Hold a kettlebell upside down (by the handle) in your right hand, elbow bent and level with your chest. Slowly press the kettlebell overhead, keeping the bell balanced toward the ceiling. Repeat 15 times, then switch hands.
10. Inverted rows
Stand facing an empty barbell racked at about chest height. Hold the bar with an overhand grip, hands shoulder-width apart and elbows bent. Walk feet underneath the bar, so your body is angled, and you are facing the ceiling.
Keeping legs straight and elbows close to body, extend arms to lower away from the bar, then squeeze shoulder blades together as you pull up and bring your chest toward the bar.
11. Stability ball roll-outs
From a kneeling position on the floor, clasp your hands and place them on a stability ball. Keep your back flat and body in line from head to toe (don’t let your butt rise or fall).
Roll forearms and ball forward, slowly elongating your body. Use abs to return to starting position. Repeat 15 times.
12. Empty bar 100s
Hold an empty barbell with an underhand grip (palms facing up). Keeping elbows close to your body, curl the bar 100 times as fast as you safely can while maintaining good form.
Phase 1: Isometric hold
Goal: Hold chin above bar for 60 seconds
Start with an underhand “chin-up” grip, palms facing your face. Using a box or bench, stand so your chin is already at or above the bar.
Pull your shoulders down and back, brace your core, and step off the box. Keep your chin above the bar as long as you can. When your chin drops below the bar, rest for two minutes. Repeat, trying to beat your previous time.
Once you’re able to hold your chin above the bar for 60 seconds, move on to Phase 2.
Phase 2: Negatives
Goal: 3 sets of lowering in 15 seconds
Use a box or bench to stand with your chin either at or above the pull-up bar. Grip the bar underhand (palms facing you) with arms bent.
Step off the box if your chin is already above the bar (or jump up so your chin is above the bar) and lower your body by extending your arms as slowly as possible. Aim for at least 15 seconds.
Once you’re all the way down, rest for one minute. That’s 1 rep. Perform 3 reps per set and 3 total sets, with 2 minutes of rest between sets. Once you’re able to complete 3 sets, move on to Phase 3.
Phase 3: Leg assisted pull-up
Goal: Perform 3 sets of 8 reps with the lightest band possible
Loop a resistance band around the pull-up bar. Take an underhand grip on the bar and place both knees (or feet) into a band, crossing your ankles.
Perform 8 pull-ups (or as many as you can) with a slow, 15-second lowering phase. That’s 1 set. Perform 3 sets with 2 minutes of rest between sets.
When you’ve mastered both legs, loop a resistance band around the pull-up bar. Take an underhand grip on the bar and place one knee or foot into the band.Allow your other leg to dangle or bend it behind you.
Perform 8 pull-ups (or as many as you can) with a slow 15-second lowering phase. That’s 1 set. Do 3 sets with 2 minutes rest between sets. Once you’re able to complete all reps and sets, move to Phase 4, which requires a partner.
Phase 4: Partner pull-ups
Goal: Perform a pull-up without bands
With a partner nearby, take an underhand grip on the bar and work to perform as many pull-ups as possible. Allow a partner to assist you on your way up by supporting you from the hips and pushing up, but always lower on your own.
Once fatigued, rest for 2 minutes, and complete 2 more sets in the same fashion. Once you’re able to complete 3 sets, move on to Phase 5.
Phase 5: Pull-up
Goal: Perform an unassisted pull-up
Congratulations friend, you’ve arrived. Are you ready to put all of your hard work to good use? Here we go.
Take an underhand grip on the bar, and perform as many pull-ups as possible. Progress to taking an overhand grip with palms facing away from your body. Aim for 3 sets with 2-minute rests in between. Happy dance optional.
“Although the pull-up is generally considered an upper-body movement, whole body stability — rigidity from the chest down — becomes very important,” says Jeff Halevy, trainer and CEO of Halevy Life in New York City.
Simply put: The move is a tough one. You’re starting from a dead hang and then pulling up your entire body weight.
“Pull-ups are arguably the greatest indicator of relative strength,” says Adam Rosante, trainer and author of The 30-Second Body.
In other words: How strong are you in relation to your own weight? If you’ve ever tackled other no-equipment classics before — like push-ups, planks, or any forearm pose in yoga — you know using your own body weight can sometimes be the biggest challenge.
Another important thing to keep in mind is shoulder mobility. “Adequate thoracic or shoulder mobility allows the lats — a primary mover in a pull-up — to do their job,” Halevy says.
“If the shoulder girdle does not possess the requisite mobility, stability, and coordination, a properly executed pull-up becomes nearly impossible to accomplish.”
So how do you make it happen? “It’s not as simple as ‘do these eight moves, and you’ll be cranking out pull-ups in no time,’” Rosante says. “However, there are moves that can help strengthen the muscles you use during a pull-up.”
The major muscles involved include the large back muscles (your latissimus dorsi and rhomboids), posterior deltoids, and biceps. You’ll also need to engage your core throughout the movement and maintain proper shoulder alignment.
That means “packing your scapula” — keeping shoulder blades pulled down and not allowing them to “wing” (poke out of your back) or come apart too far (which would hunch your shoulders).
You’ll never forget your first… your first pull-up, that is. It’s a feeling unlike any other. The kind that makes you want to run around the gym and let everyone know what you’ve just accomplished. (Go ahead, we won’t judge.)
As you progress through your pull-up journey, remember to keep good form, work your core to compliment your upper body muscles, and find new ways to challenge your strength. Pretty soon you’ll be busting out pull-ups like it’s your part-time job.
Special thanks to Nick Johnson, certified trainer and vice president at Halevy Life, for designing several of the moves. Also, thanks to Jeff Halevy, certified trainer and owner of Halevy Life, for providing photos, modeling this workout, and designing several of the moves.