Exercise Comparison
Bent Over Barbell Row vs Leverage High Row




Side-by-Side
Muscle Analysis
Shared
Only in Bent Over Barbell Row
Instructions
Bent Over Barbell Row
Holding a barbell with a pronated grip (palms facing down), bend your knees slightly and bring your torso forward, by bending at the waist, while keeping the back straight until it is almost parallel to the floor. Tip: Make sure that you keep the head up. The barbell should hang directly in front of you as your arms hang perpendicular to the floor and your torso. This is your starting position.
Now, while keeping the torso stationary, breathe out and lift the barbell to you. Keep the elbows close to the body and only use the forearms to hold the weight. At the top contracted position, squeeze the back muscles and hold for a brief pause.
Then inhale and slowly lower the barbell back to the starting position.
Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Leverage High Row
Load an appropriate weight onto the pins and adjust the seat height so that you can just reach the handles above you. Adjust the knee pad to help keep you down. Grasp the handles with a pronated grip. This will be your starting position.
Pull the handles towards your torso, retracting your shoulder blades as you flex the elbow.
Pause at the bottom of the motion, and then slowly return the handles to the starting position.
For multiple repetitions, avoid completely returning the weight to the stops to keep tension on the muscles being worked.
Verdict
Both exercises target the middle back. Bent Over Barbell Row is a beginner exercise using barbell, while Leverage High Row is beginner and uses machine. Choose Bent Over Barbell Row if you have access to barbell, or Leverage High Row if you prefer machine.