10 Best Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover Alternatives for Home Gyms
The Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover is done lying on your back with a barbell. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Wide Grip Pull-up, the Wide-grip Rear Pull-up and the Rear Pull-up.
Updated Ranked by our 12-factor similarity model How it works
Original Exercise: Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
- Primary muscle
- Lats
- Equipment
- Barbell
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Type
- Isolation
Secondary muscles: Triceps, Chest
How to perform Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
- Lie on a decline bench with your head lower than your hips and your feet secured.
- Hold a barbell with a wide grip and extend your arms straight above your chest.
- Lower the barbell behind your head in a controlled manner, keeping your arms straight.
- Pause for a moment, then raise the barbell back to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Ranked Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover Alternatives
10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.
Best match 1. Wide Grip Pull-up
57% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Advanced
- Compound
Use this when you have nothing to train with, because it works the lats with bodyweight alone.
How to perform this exercise
- Hang from a pull-up bar with your palms facing away from you and your hands wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Engage your core and squeeze your shoulder blades together.
- Pull your body up towards the bar until your chin is above the bar.
- Lower your body back down to the starting position with control.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: hanging, not lying on your back
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover

2. Wide-grip Rear Pull-up
57% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Advanced
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- 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, bring your torso forward and head so that there is an imaginary line from the pull-up bar to the back of your neck. This is your starting position.
- Pull your torso up until the bar is near the back of your neck. To do this, draw the shoulders and upper arms down and back while slightly leaning your head forward. 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.
- Repeat this motion for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: hanging, not lying on your back
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
3. Rear Pull-up
56% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Grab the pull-up bar with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Hang from the bar with your arms fully extended and your body straight.
- Engage your back muscles and 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.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: hanging, not lying on your back
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
4. Bench Pull-ups
55% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Position yourself under a bar or a sturdy horizontal surface that is at chest height.
- Grab the bar or surface with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Hang with your arms fully extended and your body straight.
- Pull your chest towards the bar or surface by squeezing your shoulder blades together and bending your elbows.
- Continue pulling until your chin is above the bar or surface.
- Lower yourself back down to the starting position with control.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: hanging, not lying on your back
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
5. Pull-up
55% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Advanced
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Hang from a pull-up bar with your palms facing away from you and your arms fully extended.
- Engage your core and squeeze your shoulder blades together.
- Pull your body up towards the bar by bending your elbows and bringing your chest towards the bar.
- Pause at the top of the movement, then slowly lower your body back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: hanging, not lying on your back
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover

6. Pullups
55% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Grab the pull-up bar with the palms facing forward using the prescribed grip. Note on grips: For a wide grip, your hands need to be spaced out at a distance wider than your shoulder width. For a medium grip, your hands need to be spaced out at a distance equal to your shoulder width and for a close grip at a distance smaller than your shoulder width.
- 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.
- Repeat this motion for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: hanging, not lying on your back
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
7. Rocky Pull-up Pulldown
55% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Advanced
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Stand in front of a pull-up bar with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Reach up and grab the bar with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Hang from the bar with your arms fully extended and your body straight.
- Engage your back muscles and pull your body up towards the bar, leading with your chest.
- 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.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: hanging, not lying on your back
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
8. Shoulder Grip Pull-up
55% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Advanced
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Grab the pull-up bar with a shoulder-width grip, palms facing away from you.
- Hang freely with your arms fully extended.
- Engage your back muscles and pull your body up towards the bar 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.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: hanging, not lying on your back
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
9. Reverse Grip Pull-up
54% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Grab the pull-up bar with an underhand grip, hands shoulder-width apart.
- Hang from the bar with your arms fully extended and your body straight.
- Engage your back muscles and pull your body up towards the bar, leading with your chest.
- 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.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: hanging, not lying on your back
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
10. L-pull-up
54% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- 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.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: hanging, not lying on your back
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover
Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover FAQ
What muscles does Barbell Decline Wide-grip Pullover work?
The movement primarily targets the latissimus dorsi with secondary stress on the teres major, rear deltoids, and the serratus anterior for scapular control. Biomechanically it produces humeral extension and adduction, so cue pulling through the elbows to emphasize lat recruitment.
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