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Exercise guide

Bent Over Two-Arm Long Bar Row

How to do the Bent Over Two-Arm Long Bar Row with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

CompoundBarbellIntermediatePull
Primary muscles

Mid Back

Secondary

Biceps, Lats

Equipment

Barbell

Step by step

How to do the Bent Over Two-Arm Long Bar Row

  1. 1

    Put weight on one of the ends of an Olympic barbell. Make sure that you either place the other end of the barbell in the corner of two walls; or put a heavy object on the ground so the barbell cannot slide backward.

  2. 2

    Bend forward until your torso is as close to parallel with the floor as you can and keep your knees slightly bent.

  3. 3

    Now grab the bar with both arms just behind the plates on the side where the weight was placed and put your other hand on your knee. This will be your starting position.

  4. 4

    Pull the bar straight up with your elbows in (to maximize back stimulation) until the plates touch your lower chest. Squeeze the back muscles as you lift the weight up and hold for a second at the top of the movement. Breathe out as you lift the weight. Tip: Use a stirrup or double handle cable attachment by hooking it under the end of the bar.

  5. 5

    Slowly lower the bar to the starting position getting a nice stretch on the lats. Tip: Do not let the plates touch the floor. To ensure the best range of motion, I recommend using small plates (25-lb ones) as opposed to larger plates (like 35-45lb ones).

  6. 6

    Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Bent Over Two-Arm Long Bar Row set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap — so your mid back volume is visible at a glance — and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Related

More mid back exercises

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