10 EZ Bar Reverse-Grip Bent-Over Row Alternatives for Limited Gear

The EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row is done standing with an EZ bar. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Dumbbell Reverse Grip Row, the Barbell Bent Over Row and the Barbell Pendlay Row.

EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over RowWatch the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row

Each substitute is scored on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. Read how we rank alternatives

How to Do the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row

The steps for the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row itself, so you can judge how close each substitute below really is.

Upper Back, with biceps, forearms · Ez-barbell · Intermediate · Compound

  1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
  2. Hold the ez barbell with an underhand grip, palms facing up, and hands shoulder-width apart.
  3. Bend forward at the hips, keeping your back straight and chest up, until your torso is almost parallel to the floor.
  4. Pull the ez barbell towards your lower chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
  5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the ez barbell back to the starting position.
  6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

The 10 Best EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Cards with a "How to perform it" link open to show the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

Each link re-ranks the list below for the kit it names. Pick one to hide the substitutes you cannot set up.

  1. Dumbbell Reverse Grip RowPlay demonstration

    1. Dumbbell Reverse Grip Row

    99% match

    Upper Back · Intermediate · Compound

    A good swap when you have dumbbells to work with, and it still works the upper back.

    • Dumbbell
    How to perform it
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
    2. Hold a dumbbell in each hand with an overhand grip, palms facing your body.
    3. Bend forward at the waist, keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
    4. Let your arms hang straight down, fully extended, with a slight bend in your elbows.
    5. Pull the dumbbells up towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    6. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbells back down to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row
    • Body position: standing, the same as the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row
  2. Barbell Bent Over RowPlay demonstration

    2. Barbell Bent Over Row

    96% match

    Upper Back · Intermediate · Compound

    A good swap when you have a barbell to work with, and it still works the upper back.

    • Barbell
    How to perform it
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
    2. Bend forward at the hips while keeping your back straight and chest up.
    3. Grasp the barbell with an overhand grip, hands slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
    4. Pull the barbell towards your lower chest by retracting your shoulder blades and squeezing your back muscles.
    5. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the barbell back to the starting position.
    6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 to 5 sets of 5 to 8 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: bent-over row, the same as the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row
    • Body position: standing, the same as the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row
  4. Kettlebell Two Arm RowPlay demonstration

    4. Kettlebell Two Arm Row

    95% match

    Upper Back · Intermediate · Compound

    A good swap when you have a kettlebell to work with, and it still works the upper back.

    • Kettlebell
    How to perform it
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and hold a kettlebell in each hand with your palms facing your body.
    2. Bend forward at the hips, keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
    3. Pull the kettlebells up towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the kettlebells back down to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row
    • Body position: standing, the same as the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row
  5. Kettlebell Alternating RowPlay demonstration

    5. Kettlebell Alternating Row

    88% match

    Upper Back · Intermediate · Compound

    Pick this when you want to work the upper back one side at a time.

    • Kettlebell
    How to perform it
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and hold a kettlebell in each hand with your palms facing your body.
    2. Bend forward at the hips, keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
    3. Pull one kettlebell up towards your chest, keeping your elbow close to your body and squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    4. Lower the kettlebell back down to the starting position and repeat with the other arm.
    5. Continue alternating arms for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row
    • Body position: standing, the same as the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row
  7. Lever Reverse T-Bar RowPlay demonstration

    7. Lever Reverse T-Bar Row

    88% match

    Upper Back · Intermediate · Compound

    A good swap when you have a lever machine to work with, and it still works the upper back.

    • Lever
    How to perform it
    1. Adjust the seat height and footplate position on the leverage machine.
    2. Sit on the machine with your chest against the pad and your feet flat on the footplate.
    3. Grasp the handles with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
    4. Keep your back straight and engage your core.
    5. Pull the handles towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    6. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement, then slowly release and extend your arms back to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: upper back, the same as the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row
    • Equipment: a machine, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row

Why You Might Need an EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row Alternative

You might substitute the EZ bar reverse-grip row for equipment, pain, or programming reasons. A supinated EZ grip increases biceps and wrist stress; if you have elbow or wrist irritation, a neutral or pronated alternative reduces loading on those joints. Lack of an EZ bar or limited rack space also forces substitutions. Rehab or unilateral focus may push you toward single-arm rows to correct left-right strength gaps. When replacing it, keep a neutral spine, hinge at the hips, and pull the elbows toward the hips to maintain the same upper-back activation (rhomboids, mid-traps, posterior delts) while minimizing lumbar shear.

EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row FAQ

Can I build muscle without doing EZ Bar Reverse Grip Bent Over Row?

Yes, you can build upper-back mass using alternatives that reproduce the hinge and elbow-back pull, like single-arm dumbbell rows, chest-supported rows, and seated cables. Focus on progressive overload, full range of motion, and squeezing the scapulae at peak contraction to ensure comparable muscle stimulation.

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