A massive, defined back is a prerequisite for any Mr. Olympia champ. On April 10, 2026, former four-time titleholder Jay Cutler broke down wide-grip versus close-grip pulldowns for back thickness and width.
During his Men’s Open tenure, Jay Cutler always found a way to win despite adversity. He reached the pinnacle of his career in 2006, finally dethroning former eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman. However, that wasn’t his only legacy-defining moment in the sport.
Cutler missed the mark at the 2008 Mr. Olympia and lost to Dexter Jackson. While he was counted out a year later, the Massachusetts native shocked the world. He presented dramatic improvements to his lower body and won back the Sandow trophy with his iconic quad stomp pose. Sporting a massive back was also key to his success, leading him to take a closer look at these two exercises.
Jay Cutler Breaks Down Close-Grip vs Wide-Grip Pulldowns for Back Thickness and Width
Speaking in a recent YouTube video, Cutler shares that close-grip pulldowns focus more on the rhomboids and middle back thickness.
“If you’re really focusing on more of your rhomboids or your middle back, that close grip is going to give you more of that middle back thickness, the rhomboids, traps.”
Conversely, Cutler pointed out that wide grip pulldowns, whether it’s behind-the-back or front-of-the-body, both build width.
“Whereas the wide grip, the wide grip pulldown, whether it’s a behind-the-back, front-of-the-body, you’re going to get the most benefit of your width by having that wider grip overhand. Always, always incorporate at least one of these exercises in your workout week to week,” shared Jay Cutler.
Cutler never gets complacent with his workout routines. He cycles different movements into his regimen to keep his body guessing. If your goal is to build the biggest back possible and wide lats, he showed how the Meadows Row has become a game-changer for muscle development.
“The Meadows row, named after the late and great John Meadows. I got a chance to train with John back in my career, and I was able to learn a couple of things from him. He has a lot of techniques, a lot of training methods that a lot of top guys use.”
Regardless of the body part, Cutler has solutions for getting the job done. At 52 years old, he still incorporates close-grip and wide-grip pulldowns to keep his back on point in retirement.
