Pull ups and press ups: how many can you do?
Discussion
I don't do push ups, but:
Age: 32
Weight: 87kg
I've managed 10 medium-width pull-ups in one go so far. I haven't used an underhand grip for a while as I've been trying to improve my overhand, but I can generally do a few more of those, or at least do them with more ease.
Personally though, I don't go to a full dead hang. I don't like the feeling on my back or my shoulders.
Age: 32
Weight: 87kg
I've managed 10 medium-width pull-ups in one go so far. I haven't used an underhand grip for a while as I've been trying to improve my overhand, but I can generally do a few more of those, or at least do them with more ease.
Personally though, I don't go to a full dead hang. I don't like the feeling on my back or my shoulders.
Pulse said:
I don't do push ups, but:
Age: 32
Weight: 87kg
I've managed 10 medium-width pull-ups in one go so far. I haven't used an underhand grip for a while as I've been trying to improve my overhand, but I can generally do a few more of those, or at least do them with more ease.
Personally though, I don't go to a full dead hang. I don't like the feeling on my back or my shoulders.
The jury is very much out on whether or not it is best to let your shoulders come up at the bottom (which gives you more ROM). Upside is that it allows you to commence the movement with scapula depression; downside is that it can involve hanging on the soft tissue for a split second. I have not decided which is right for me so tend to alternate randomly, which is probably the worst of all worlds.Age: 32
Weight: 87kg
I've managed 10 medium-width pull-ups in one go so far. I haven't used an underhand grip for a while as I've been trying to improve my overhand, but I can generally do a few more of those, or at least do them with more ease.
Personally though, I don't go to a full dead hang. I don't like the feeling on my back or my shoulders.
ORD said:
No surprise there at your bodyweight. Aside from a few exceptionally strong guys (Diddlydoo, for example), heavy men struggle with pull ups. If you find YouTube clips of huge bodybuilders doing '20 pull ups', there's usually not a single complete or decent rep to be seen.
It does seem to vary enormously between people. I haven't had time to check yet, but I think I can do at least 30 press ups straight off, but I can only just do 5 chins ups, perhaps only 4, and they've been part of my weights routine for about 8 years - I started unable to do even one! I weigh 67-72kg depending on the time of year and do weights once or twice a week.My wife does weights once a week alongside CV, and she also climbs regularly, so she can do press-ups and other bodyweight exercises without an issue, but she can't do a single chin up.
Edited by RobM77 on Wednesday 26th April 10:08
RobM77 said:
It does seem to vary enormously between people. I haven't had time to check yet, but I think I can do at least 30 press ups straight off, but I can only just do 5 chins ups, perhaps only 4, and they've been part of my weights routine for about 8 years - I started unable to do even one! I weigh 67-72kg depending on the time of year and do weights once or twice a week.
My wife does weights once a week alongside CV, and she also climbs regularly, so she can do press-ups and other bodyweight exercises without an issue, but she can't do a single chin up.
Several factors:My wife does weights once a week alongside CV, and she also climbs regularly, so she can do press-ups and other bodyweight exercises without an issue, but she can't do a single chin up.
Edited by RobM77 on Wednesday 26th April 10:08
(1) Pull ups are simply a lot harder than press ups. Much higher load.
(2) Men generally a bit of strength in their chest and triceps but much less so in their upper and mid-back. The typical British man is very unbalanced front to back.
(3) Pull ups are harder to cheat (without it being obvious) than press ups
46, 70kg to 72kg ish, 5'6".
I haven't done any pull-ups or press-ups for years. I used to have to do loads (army, PT) so stopped doing "gym stuff" and running when I was retired. Swapped to cycling instead as my sole form of exercise (gentler on joints than running, or so I'm told).
Probably struggle to manage even 1 pull-up now, after having my scapula fractured when a van driver knocked me off my bike in February 2014. Similarly my threshold for press-ups would likely be quite low too. Although my mountain biking efforts do me some good with arm strength, so I could probably manage a few.
Rewind back to basic training (1987/88) though, and I was one of the top two in a "superstars" style competition in my training intake (approximately 120 lads). Press-ups, pull-ups, squat-thrusts, sit-ups, rope climbs, etc. I forget the numbers, but that, and a punch I threw at an instructor (not boasting, I was technicallyasleep at the time!) led to me having a brief career as an amateur army boxer. Sad to say that I didn't keep it up, but a war and a 9 month technical trade course got in the way and I fell out of the habit of training and never really got back into it.
Later in my career, as someone up thread mentioned, the army introduced sit-ups and press-ups into the basic fitness test, along with the run. I did OK with those tests, again reaching the age-group required maximum and stopping to save myself for the next test. I really struggled with running toward the end of my career (I'll be needing a hip replacement in a few years, I reckon), so knocking out more press-ups than I needed would have been a daft idea.
I haven't done any pull-ups or press-ups for years. I used to have to do loads (army, PT) so stopped doing "gym stuff" and running when I was retired. Swapped to cycling instead as my sole form of exercise (gentler on joints than running, or so I'm told).
Probably struggle to manage even 1 pull-up now, after having my scapula fractured when a van driver knocked me off my bike in February 2014. Similarly my threshold for press-ups would likely be quite low too. Although my mountain biking efforts do me some good with arm strength, so I could probably manage a few.
Rewind back to basic training (1987/88) though, and I was one of the top two in a "superstars" style competition in my training intake (approximately 120 lads). Press-ups, pull-ups, squat-thrusts, sit-ups, rope climbs, etc. I forget the numbers, but that, and a punch I threw at an instructor (not boasting, I was technicallyasleep at the time!) led to me having a brief career as an amateur army boxer. Sad to say that I didn't keep it up, but a war and a 9 month technical trade course got in the way and I fell out of the habit of training and never really got back into it.
Later in my career, as someone up thread mentioned, the army introduced sit-ups and press-ups into the basic fitness test, along with the run. I did OK with those tests, again reaching the age-group required maximum and stopping to save myself for the next test. I really struggled with running toward the end of my career (I'll be needing a hip replacement in a few years, I reckon), so knocking out more press-ups than I needed would have been a daft idea.
Another point - pull ups and chin ups have a real weak link: the biceps. Unless you do lots of curls, your biceps don't get much stimulation from anything except pull ups. Triceps get decent work from all pressing motions (which people do more than pulling anyway).
Also, pull ups simply don't respond that well to training. Not sure why. Perhaps because they are a fairly complex movement so it can be hard to identify the weak link. Perhaps because they rely on total body strength but building total body strength normally adds mass, and the two cancel each other out. For all these reasons, getting better at Pull ups seems almost always to involve simply doing vastly more pull ups (4 or 5 workouts per week). Not many men train with that kind of frequency.
Also, pull ups simply don't respond that well to training. Not sure why. Perhaps because they are a fairly complex movement so it can be hard to identify the weak link. Perhaps because they rely on total body strength but building total body strength normally adds mass, and the two cancel each other out. For all these reasons, getting better at Pull ups seems almost always to involve simply doing vastly more pull ups (4 or 5 workouts per week). Not many men train with that kind of frequency.
When I was 120+ I could do 20 pull-ups or more, now at a dry '104' and building back my strength up, I think I could do 20. I'll give it a whizz this week as my training is going to be hampered by work.
These are to the top of the chest, I follow Pavel's boxer pull-up.
I set my grip width by standing normally and then raising my arms up in a natural arc.
Current training is I have pulldowns, chins and pull-ups all part of my regimen. Chins are in my elimination circuit and I normally get to round 8 before my grip goes.
Press-ups, I once did the to 100 thing, and got there, as of now..ha....I have no idea, I'd like to think over 20, I'll try it this week.
These are to the top of the chest, I follow Pavel's boxer pull-up.
I set my grip width by standing normally and then raising my arms up in a natural arc.
Current training is I have pulldowns, chins and pull-ups all part of my regimen. Chins are in my elimination circuit and I normally get to round 8 before my grip goes.
Press-ups, I once did the to 100 thing, and got there, as of now..ha....I have no idea, I'd like to think over 20, I'll try it this week.
ORD said:
RobM77 said:
It does seem to vary enormously between people. I haven't had time to check yet, but I think I can do at least 30 press ups straight off, but I can only just do 5 chins ups, perhaps only 4, and they've been part of my weights routine for about 8 years - I started unable to do even one! I weigh 67-72kg depending on the time of year and do weights once or twice a week.
My wife does weights once a week alongside CV, and she also climbs regularly, so she can do press-ups and other bodyweight exercises without an issue, but she can't do a single chin up.
Several factors:My wife does weights once a week alongside CV, and she also climbs regularly, so she can do press-ups and other bodyweight exercises without an issue, but she can't do a single chin up.
Edited by RobM77 on Wednesday 26th April 10:08
(1) Pull ups are simply a lot harder than press ups. Much higher load.
(2) Men generally a bit of strength in their chest and triceps but much less so in their upper and mid-back. The typical British man is very unbalanced front to back.
(3) Pull ups are harder to cheat (without it being obvious) than press ups
RobM77 said:
It does seem to vary enormously between people. I haven't had time to check yet, but I think I can do at least 30 press ups straight off, but I can only just do 5 chins ups, perhaps only 4, and they've been part of my weights routine for about 8 years - I started unable to do even one! I weigh 67-72kg depending on the time of year and do weights once or twice a week.
My wife does weights once a week alongside CV, and she also climbs regularly, so she can do press-ups and other bodyweight exercises without an issue, but she can't do a single chin up.
Mine have come on a bit like that. I started the gym in January last year (first time ever in the gym, at 31), and wasn't able to do any!My wife does weights once a week alongside CV, and she also climbs regularly, so she can do press-ups and other bodyweight exercises without an issue, but she can't do a single chin up.
Edited by RobM77 on Wednesday 26th April 10:08
I trained with the lat pulldown machine initially, and mixed in a few underhand grip 'chin' ups with a narrow grip. I went from that to a neutral grip, and then on to what is now a not very wide (slightly wider than shoulder wide) overhand grip.
It was SLOW to make progress, but it is one of my favourite exercises, so I don't mind. I do similar to what Chris said above - I work up to 25 reps, no matter how many sets that takes me - and I always work to failure on the first set.
I've gone from 0 to 10, which I am reasonably happy with. It would be great to be able to bash out 20 like other people seem to be able to do!
I've recently tried weighted as a method for upping the reps (just as a change, and to stimulate in a different way). It worked well and my back felt like it'd been ripped in half! I did as much as I could with 10kg in my bag, then 5kg, then went to un-weighted.
I'll try press ups and report back, but my chest isn't a strong area.
Age: 29
Weight: 80kg
Pull-up max: 24
Push-up max: 43
Push-ups are always chest to floor, lots of people cheat. I saw a push-up challenge on the internet recently which was in aid of some military charity or other. People were filming themselves doing 22 push-ups for 22 days, and most were literally in the prone position just dipping their arms and calling them push-ups. Each to their own. Secret to decent push-ups and lots of reps is to engage the whole body, abs, legs, and shoulders. Keep your body stiff and it makes it much easier in my opinion.
Pull-ups are a different beast. If you can do more than 20 in a row, from straight arms to chin above the bar, you're already doing great in my opinion. Body fat has a big impact on pull-ups too. Lose the belly and your pull-up max will massively increase.
Weight: 80kg
Pull-up max: 24
Push-up max: 43
Push-ups are always chest to floor, lots of people cheat. I saw a push-up challenge on the internet recently which was in aid of some military charity or other. People were filming themselves doing 22 push-ups for 22 days, and most were literally in the prone position just dipping their arms and calling them push-ups. Each to their own. Secret to decent push-ups and lots of reps is to engage the whole body, abs, legs, and shoulders. Keep your body stiff and it makes it much easier in my opinion.
Pull-ups are a different beast. If you can do more than 20 in a row, from straight arms to chin above the bar, you're already doing great in my opinion. Body fat has a big impact on pull-ups too. Lose the belly and your pull-up max will massively increase.
bulldong said:
Age: 29
Weight: 80kg
Pull-up max: 24
Push-up max: 43
Push-ups are always chest to floor, lots of people cheat. I saw a push-up challenge on the internet recently which was in aid of some military charity or other. People were filming themselves doing 22 push-ups for 22 days, and most were literally in the prone position just dipping their arms and calling them push-ups. Each to their own. Secret to decent push-ups and lots of reps is to engage the whole body, abs, legs, and shoulders. Keep your body stiff and it makes it much easier in my opinion.
Pull-ups are a different beast. If you can do more than 20 in a row, from straight arms to chin above the bar, you're already doing great in my opinion. Body fat has a big impact on pull-ups too. Lose the belly and your pull-up max will massively increase.
Good results. Assuming you're 12% bf or lower?Weight: 80kg
Pull-up max: 24
Push-up max: 43
Push-ups are always chest to floor, lots of people cheat. I saw a push-up challenge on the internet recently which was in aid of some military charity or other. People were filming themselves doing 22 push-ups for 22 days, and most were literally in the prone position just dipping their arms and calling them push-ups. Each to their own. Secret to decent push-ups and lots of reps is to engage the whole body, abs, legs, and shoulders. Keep your body stiff and it makes it much easier in my opinion.
Pull-ups are a different beast. If you can do more than 20 in a row, from straight arms to chin above the bar, you're already doing great in my opinion. Body fat has a big impact on pull-ups too. Lose the belly and your pull-up max will massively increase.
ORD said:
People generally find pull ups slightly harder, but that is partly because they generally take a wider grip on pull ups.
It's because there is far less bicep recruitment (<96%).ORD said:
Chin ups and pull ups activate the same muscles (if done at the same width) and to an almost identical extent.
I don't think I've ever seen a wide grip chin! There's more back and less bicep recruitment with pullups. You would physically struggle to perform pullups as narrow as chins..ORD said:
I find neutral grip slightly more comfortable than supinated (chins) and vastly more comfortable than overhand (pull ups). But I think I can probably do more chins than neutral grip (by 1 or 2 reps). Pull ups are much worse because my shoulders seem to get in their own way (minor impingement, maybe).
Far less shoulder rotation with chins, less infraspinatus, pecs and obliques involved as well.johnwilliams77 said:
bulldong said:
Age: 29
Weight: 80kg
Pull-up max: 24
Push-up max: 43
Push-ups are always chest to floor, lots of people cheat. I saw a push-up challenge on the internet recently which was in aid of some military charity or other. People were filming themselves doing 22 push-ups for 22 days, and most were literally in the prone position just dipping their arms and calling them push-ups. Each to their own. Secret to decent push-ups and lots of reps is to engage the whole body, abs, legs, and shoulders. Keep your body stiff and it makes it much easier in my opinion.
Pull-ups are a different beast. If you can do more than 20 in a row, from straight arms to chin above the bar, you're already doing great in my opinion. Body fat has a big impact on pull-ups too. Lose the belly and your pull-up max will massively increase.
Good results. Assuming you're 12% bf or lower?Weight: 80kg
Pull-up max: 24
Push-up max: 43
Push-ups are always chest to floor, lots of people cheat. I saw a push-up challenge on the internet recently which was in aid of some military charity or other. People were filming themselves doing 22 push-ups for 22 days, and most were literally in the prone position just dipping their arms and calling them push-ups. Each to their own. Secret to decent push-ups and lots of reps is to engage the whole body, abs, legs, and shoulders. Keep your body stiff and it makes it much easier in my opinion.
Pull-ups are a different beast. If you can do more than 20 in a row, from straight arms to chin above the bar, you're already doing great in my opinion. Body fat has a big impact on pull-ups too. Lose the belly and your pull-up max will massively increase.
About 3 years ago I had a kidney stone. Which shocked me and was a dreadful experience. I got really fat (84kg) with not v much muscle, I was eating badly, smoking, and drinking. Dropped down to 72kg through diet and stopping smoking and drinking a bit less. Up to about 80kg now. Have very small amount of belly fat which seems impossible to shift, but I do like to not be a bore about it. Perhaps if I only ate chicken, fish, and vegetables it would disappear but I'm not that bothered.
I was actually quite happy and feeling good at 72kg but started working out because although I've been kayaking for ages, I realised I wasn't going to get any better just using technique, and needed to build up my strength. It's changed everything on the river and off, and it's become part of my routine now which is good.
I think that 82kg with slightly less body fat will be ok.
I am not scientific about it at all, and don't want to be.
I have to say that very very few people ever do pull ups at my gym and the few that do tend to do very limited range of movement. They do one full pull up to start and then sort of bounce 4 or 5 inches from the top of the first press up.
As I said earlier, I've been doing low rep weighted pullups (the goal is being able to do 100lb pull ups). When you try body weight only pull ups the first 8 or 10 are very easy (you feel like you're going to launch yourself over the bar), however my endurance is pretty poor, hence I can maybe manage 13 or 14 in a row.
I guess you can either have strength or reps, but not both.
As I said earlier, I've been doing low rep weighted pullups (the goal is being able to do 100lb pull ups). When you try body weight only pull ups the first 8 or 10 are very easy (you feel like you're going to launch yourself over the bar), however my endurance is pretty poor, hence I can maybe manage 13 or 14 in a row.
I guess you can either have strength or reps, but not both.
I can use the lat pull to do well over my body weight for 3 sets of 8 easily (I am 75kg and currently do 115 kg on lat put on hammer strength style machines).
I am 31 and 6ft 3, long arms and flexible in the shoulders so I have a long way to pull up!
When it comes to the wide pull up (and by wide I am talking just outside shoulder width with overhand grip) I do struggle to do the same 3 sets of 8 and it doesn't matter if I extend all the way down or stop short. By 4 or 5 I feel like I am in trouble! Sometimes on the 3rd set, I only manage 5.
As for press-ups...I can do maybe 20 in a row before it starts to get me and then not long after I am done.
Nothing I do in training appears to change the outcome. I even started doing weighted press-ups/dips/pull ups and it doesn't make doing them normally any easier!
My muscles seem to work like voltage regulators, they don't fade slowly over time, they give maximum (or near) performance and then fall off a cliff. I am really good at short sprint work in the pool, but longer distance stuff or stuff with marginal rest does me in. 50's max on 3-4 minute repeats I could do all day and I'll be able to hold times well.
I am 31 and 6ft 3, long arms and flexible in the shoulders so I have a long way to pull up!
When it comes to the wide pull up (and by wide I am talking just outside shoulder width with overhand grip) I do struggle to do the same 3 sets of 8 and it doesn't matter if I extend all the way down or stop short. By 4 or 5 I feel like I am in trouble! Sometimes on the 3rd set, I only manage 5.
As for press-ups...I can do maybe 20 in a row before it starts to get me and then not long after I am done.
Nothing I do in training appears to change the outcome. I even started doing weighted press-ups/dips/pull ups and it doesn't make doing them normally any easier!
My muscles seem to work like voltage regulators, they don't fade slowly over time, they give maximum (or near) performance and then fall off a cliff. I am really good at short sprint work in the pool, but longer distance stuff or stuff with marginal rest does me in. 50's max on 3-4 minute repeats I could do all day and I'll be able to hold times well.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Wednesday 26th April 12:05
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Wednesday 26th April 12:07
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