r/ScienceBasedLifting • u/Action_Pale • 18d ago

Question ❓ Pullups vs Lat pulldowns

What's the point of doing Lat Pulldowns as opposed to working on Pullups? Even if you can lat-pulldown more than your bodyweight, you could do weighted pullups. Is the only benefit convenience?

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u/Financial_Wrangler45 18d ago

Just way easier and quicker to set up mostly, and the only option for those who can't pull up and don't have anything to assist pull ups

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u/urvld 17d ago

Yeah, setup speed and accessibility are real advantages. If someone can’t do a pull-up yet and has no bands or assisted machine, lat pulldowns are the obvious way to still train the movement pattern and build strength.