L-pull-up
Use pure bodyweight leverage to build strength you can feel outside the gym: L-pull-up earns a spot in every back session.
How to do L-pull-up
- Grab the pull-up bar with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Hang with your arms fully extended and your body straight.
- Engage your lats and biceps to pull your body up towards the bar, keeping your elbows close to your body.
- Continue pulling until your chin is above the bar.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your body back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
L-pull-up Sets and Reps by Goal
Strength
4 sets of 6-8 reps at your hardest clean leverage, resting 2-3 minutes. Change leverage or elevation before you add load.
Hypertrophy
4 sets of 12-18 reps with 60 seconds of rest. Hold the end position for a beat once reps come easily.
Endurance
3 sets of 25-30 reps with 30-45 seconds of rest. Add reps first, then slow the lowering phase.
Common L-pull-up Mistakes
Shortening the range as soon as the set gets hard
End the set on the last full-range rep instead of grinding out halves.
Feeling the movement everywhere except the muscle it trains
Lighten the load and rebuild the position until the target muscle burns.
Easier and Harder Than L-pull-up
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L-pull-up — Frequently Asked Questions
How do you do the L-pull-up?
Grab the pull-up bar with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Hang with your arms fully extended and your body straight. Engage your lats and biceps to pull your body up towards the bar, keeping your elbows close to your body. Use your bodyweight only and keep the movement controlled through the full range. The animated GIF above shows the complete rep at normal speed.
What muscles does the L-pull-up work?
The L-pull-up primarily targets the lats. It is classified as a back exercise and is performed with your bodyweight only.
How many sets and reps of the L-pull-up should I do?
For muscle growth: 4 sets of 12-18 reps with 60 seconds of rest. Hold the end position for a beat once reps come easily. Adjust the load rather than the rep target if form breaks down before the final rep.
Is the L-pull-up good for beginners?
It is an intermediate movement. You will get more out of it once you can already perform the basic back patterns with controlled form. Beginners can still use it with light load and close attention to technique.
What can I do instead of the L-pull-up?
Try the Ez Bar Lying Bent Arms Pullover, Lever Pullover or the Barbell Bent Arm Pullover. Each trains the lats with a similar movement pattern, so you can swap based on the equipment you have available.
