Exercise Comparison
Band Assisted Pull-Up vs Rocky Pull-Ups/Pulldowns




Side-by-Side
Muscle Analysis
Shared
Only in Band Assisted Pull-Up
Only in Rocky Pull-Ups/Pulldowns
Instructions
Band Assisted Pull-Up
Choke the band around the center of the pullup bar. You can use different bands to provide varying levels of assistance.
Pull the end of the band down, and place one bent knee into the loop, ensuring it won't slip out. Take a medium to wide grip on the bar. This will be your starting position.
Pull yourself upward by contracting the lats as you flex the elbow. The elbow should be driven to your side. Pull to the front, attempting to get your chin over the bar. Avoid swinging or jerking movements.
After a brief pause, return to the starting position.
Rocky Pull-Ups/Pulldowns
Grab the pull-up bar with the palms facing forward using a wide grip.
As you have both arms extended in front of you holding the bar at the chosen grip width, bring your torso back around 30 degrees or so while creating a curvature on your lower back and sticking your chest out. This is your starting position.
Pull your torso up until the bar touches your upper chest by drawing the shoulders and the upper arms down and back. Exhale as you perform this portion of the movement. Tip: Concentrate on squeezing the back muscles once you reach the full contracted position. The upper torso should remain stationary as it moves through space and only the arms should move. The forearms should do no other work other than hold the bar.
After a second on the contracted position, start to inhale and slowly lower your torso back to the starting position when your arms are fully extended and the lats are fully stretched.
Now repeat the same movements as described above except this time your torso will remain straight as you go up and the bar will touch the back of the neck instead of the upper chest. Tip: Use the head to lean forward slightly as it will help you properly execute this portion of the exercise.
Once you have lowered yourself back down to the starting position, repeat the exercise for the prescribed amount of repetitions in your program.
Verdict
Both exercises target the lats. Band Assisted Pull-Up is a beginner exercise using other, while Rocky Pull-Ups/Pulldowns is intermediate and uses other. Choose Band Assisted Pull-Up if you're looking for a more accessible option, or Rocky Pull-Ups/Pulldowns for a greater challenge.