Pull Ups in PB1

I’m nearing the end of my first run through PB1. No significant changes to strength but it was fun to incorporate higher rep exercises.

I’m my second run through, I’d like to get better at pull ups. I figured I’d incorporate them into my GPP days, but it also feels suboptimal to do 3 sets of 3-5 pullups. My idea is to do these reps but superset them with Lat Pulldowns, around 8-12 reps to RPE 8-9, the allotted time

Would this be ideal to help increase my pull ups overall?

Schreff,

Thanks for the post. I’d be a bit more optimistic with your strength delta, as I’m curious to see how the testing week goes for you.

Regarding the pull ups, I’m not sure I understand what you mean about 3 sets of 3 to 5 pull ups for GPP since GPP upper back work isn’t programmed like that. To get better at pull -ups, I think any amount of training is likely to help, though I don’t think supersetting them with lat pulldowns (or anything really) is likely to be the best option.

Perhaps, you could do as many sets of 1-2 in the allotted time and try to increase that week to week? Just my 0.02.

-Jordan

Hey Doc,

Thanks for the follow-up. My implication was that if my upper back work on GPP days is pull-ups, I’m going to manage approximately 3 sets of 3-5 reps if I’m staying in the 1-2 RIR range, and the prescription calls for a minimum of 8 reps over the allotted time. My idea, to get the reps in, was to superset with a similar exercise.

I’m ultimately more concerned with getting better at pull ups than getting the reps in, because I feel the exercise is more indicative of overall fitness and an ability to do more of them will probably make me feel better about myself in terms of training progress. People also frequently point to pull ups as what helped them develop a wicked set of wings, and I’d like a pair of those.

Hmm, yea I’m not sure I agree regarding pull-ups indicating overall fitness, nor do I think they’re great for lat development compared to other options. That said, I do think most people who train should be able to do some pull ups.

In any case, I am more than happy for you to train them and think doing multiple sets of 1-2 in the GPP slot would be appropriate for now. Later, training them more similarly to a main lift might be useful.