Last Updated On September 7, 2023
Out of all the muscles in the body, the lower lats are the one area you cannot afford to neglect. Not only does performing lower lat exercises help develop an incredible “V-shaped” physique, but it also helps improve your overall athleticism.
Not forgetting that by working the lower lats, you’re bringing stability to your spine and shoulder joints, helping you prevent those annoying niggles you might get as you get older.
In this article, I’ll show you all of the best exercises for lower lat development and discuss the benefits of training this muscle group in more detail.
7 Best Lower Lat Exercises (Home Workouts For Muscle Development)
If you want to develop a wide V shape back, then you need to work your lower lats. These 7 exercises are the best lower lat movements that you can add to your workout routine.
Choose 2-3 of them for excellent lower lat development.
1. Dumbbell Row To Hips
No lower lat workout would be complete without including a dumbbell row; they’re among the best exercises for developing lower lat thickness. Dumbbell rows are also a great alternative to a standard rowing machine.
I’m a massive fan of this movement as it allows you to work each arm individually, evening out any strength imbalances that can occur between the two sides of the back.
This exercise is a variation on the traditional single-arm dumbbell row, the tweak I’m about to show you will slightly shift the range of motion to increase lower lat activation.
Benefits:
- Works each side individually.
- Irons out muscular imbalances.
- Suitable for most ability levels.
How To Perform The Dumbbell Row To Hips:
- Find a stable bench or rack to lean on and place your dumbbell onto the floor between your feet.
- Place your right hand onto the bench or rack and pick up the dumbbell with your left hand. Then place your left leg slightly back.
- From here, instead of pulling the dumbbell directly upwards, you want to aim to move in an arc-like manner, pulling the dumbbell toward your hip. If you’re struggling to create an arc movement, lower the weight and focus first on getting the exercise right.
- Then reverse the arc-like movement back down toward the starting position, stretching the lats in at the bottom of the rep.
- After you’ve completed your reps, switch arms and repeat.
Tips From A Trainer!
Don't lift too heavy with this movement. Focus on using the best form possible, you'll get more from the movement and will increase muscle growth.
Related Article - Best Cheap Adjustable Dumbbells
2. Seated Band Row
When it comes to using resistance bands, they’re incredibly versatile and can produce some excellent results if you implement them into your lower lat muscle workout. Resistance bands are also one of the most affordable pieces of gym equipment.
One thing I love about performing the seated band row is that due to the nature of the band itself, your body can move freely, allowing you to get the maximum range of motion for your body. This is something that barbells and dumbbells can’t do.
By using a resistance band, the load pattern will be completely different from using a uniform resistance like a dumbbell (resistance stays the same). With a band, the resistance is constant, and it increases as you pull the band towards your body.
benefits:
- Great if you're on the move.
- Provides constant tension on your muscles.
How To Perform The Seated Band Row:
- Sit on the floor with your legs out in front of you.
- Take a resistance band (I recommend a looped 3ft band) and place your feet at the center of the band.
- Take hold of both ends, and sit up nice and tall.
- Next, externally rotate the shoulders (put your shoulder blades in your pocket) and slightly retract your shoulder blades.
- Draw the band toward your lower ribs slowly, contracting your lat muscles, and then take your hands back to the start position.
Tips From A Trainer!
Going on vacation? Put a resistance band in your luggage. You'll be able to perform this movement in your hotel room.
Related Article - How Long Do Resistance Bands Last?
3. Wide Grip Lat Pulldown
Taking your grip wider than the traditional grip (which is usually a lot closer) helps you target the outer and lower lats. It was a main component in the Arnold lower lat workout.
At the top of the wide grip lat pulldown position, your arms are slightly angled outwards, giving you maximum lower lat stretch, and as you pull the bar towards your body, it causes your arms to close inwards, contracting the lower lat muscles.
I've used this movement for years, it's one of the staples in my lower lat workouts. In my opinion, you can't train your back without performing the lat pulldown... it just doesn't seem right.
benefits:
- Develops wide looking lats.
- Uses a large range of motion.
How To Perform The Wide Grip Lat Pulldown:
- Set up a wide grip bar using a lat pulldown machine and sit onto the machine’s seat.
- Reach up and hold the bar in the widest position that’s comfortable. This is usually around 1.5-2x shoulder width.
- Slightly lean back and draw the shoulder blades back and down as you pull the bar towards your clavicle (collar bone).
- Pause at the bottom, squeeze the lower lat muscle together, then slowly take the bar back up to the starting position, breathing in as the lower lat stretches.
Tips From A Trainer!
Always use a full range of motion. By doing so, you'll increase your lat activation, giving you bigger (and stronger) lats.
4. Underhanded Bent Over Row
It can be argued that the bent-over row is the king of the back building exercises. It’s a great compound exercise that not only develops back thickness but will help build your biceps too. A barbell offers uniform resistance compared to dumbbells.
The traditional bent-over row is performed by using an overhand grip. However, by simply taking an underhand grip, you'll be optimizing the movement for targeting the lower lats. This is due to an increase in scapular depression (drawing the shoulder blades downward).
Throughout the years, I've used a variety of grips during the bent over row and I've found the underhand row to be excellent for lower lat development. Don't underestimate this one.
benefits:
- You can overload your lower lats with a lot of weight.
- It's a compound movement.
How To Perform The Underhanded Bent Over Row:
- Place a barbell with your desired weight in front of you on the floor.
- Move your feet under the bar and assume a deadlift position (neutral back).
- Pick the bar up using an underhand grip and straighten your body. Then maintain a straight back, hip hinge, and bring your head toward the ground until you’re bent over.
- Draw the barbell toward your belly button, squeezing your shoulder blades together at the top of the movement and then slowly bringing the weight back to its starting position.
Tips From A Trainer!
Use a variety of hand positions and grips during the bent over row for full back development. My favorite combination is overhand and underhand, it provides me with a killer pump.
Related Article - Barbell Vs Dumbbell
5. Straight Arm Lat Pulldown
One of the most underrated, the best exercise for lower lat development is the straight arm lat pulldown. While this exercise is classed as a shoulder extension movement, it significantly affects lower lat development.
If you’ve ever finished your back session and thought, "I didn't feel anything in my back," then I can assure you that the straight arm lat pulldown will cure this problem for you. Always remember to make sure you are lifting the appropriate lat pulldown weight.
Due to the minimal involvement of the biceps, most of the tension is placed on the lats, plus you can do this at home easily using most cable systems or resistance bands.
benefits:
- Doesn't require a lot of weight.
- Great for most abilities.
How To Perform The Straight Arm Lat Pulldown:
- Set up a rope or a bar onto your lat pulldown or pulley system machine.
- Stand under the bar or rope and grab hold of it with an overhand grip
- Step back slightly to create space and tension in the cable. Then hinge from the hips somewhat so your arms are on an angle and your elbows align with your ears.
- Keeping your arms straight, draw them down toward your hips, squeezing the shoulder blades together as you reach the bottom part of the movement.
- Then reverse the movement back to the beginning ensuring the lower lat stretches.
Tips From A Trainer!
I highly recommend performing this movement at the beginning of your back workout. Not only does it help activate your back muscles, but I've found it improves my scapula function for all other lower lat movements.
6. Single Arm Lat Pulldown
This little known variation of the lat pulldown is one of my favorites from the best lower lat exercises.
Due to the fact you’re using a single handle attachment on the lat pull down, it allows you to work the lats iso-laterally (one side at a time), ironing out any weaknesses that one side might have.
benefits:
- Improves muscular imbalances.
- Great for all abilities.
- Doesn't require a lot of weight.
How To Perform The Single-Arm Lat Pulldown:
- Set up the lat pulldown machine you are using with a single stirrup-style handle.
- Sit under the lat pulldown and grab the handle.
- Retract the shoulder blade and draw the handle toward your shoulder, squeezing the lats at the bottom. Then ensure you get maximum lat stretch between each rep.
- Switch arms and repeat.
Tips From A Trainer!
Don't be tempted to use a huge amount of weight during this movement. While you might be able to lift the weight, it's an exercise that doesn't require a lot of weight.
Related Article - Lat Pulldown Benefits
7. Dumbbell Pullover
This old-school low lat builder will provide you with significant lower lat development. It stretches the muscle fibers and works the back muscles and shoulder girdle in a similar fashion to the straight arm pulldown.
This movement was one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's favorite exercises and he always included it into his workout routines.
If it's good enough for Arnold, then there's no reason why you shouldn't add it to your next back workout.
benefits:
- Uses a large range of movement.
- Provides an excellent pump.
- Doesn't require a lot of weight (unless you want to use it).
How To Perform The Dumbbell Pullover:
- Select a dumbbell and lie down on a flat bench.
- Hold the dumbbell in an upright position using both hands and lift it directly upwards.
- Keeping the arms straight, move the dumbbell toward your head in an arcing motion until the weight passes your head and stretches your lower lat muscle.
- Bring the dumbbell back to the starting position above your chest and repeat.
Tips From A Trainer!
If you find it difficult to support your body on your shoulders (as in the image), lie on the bench in a regular position, this will reduce the amount of hip, glutes, and core work needed to keep your body stable.
The Benefits Of Training Your Lower Lats
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, the lower lats are one of the most important muscle groups in the body. They’re often overlooked by many gym enthusiasts.
Believe it or not, the lats are a significant part of your body’s core, bringing stability to your body during major lifts like squats, deadlifts, military press, and bench press.
World-famous bodybuilder Dorian Yates once stated that "most bodybuilders have wide upper lats, but inadequate lower lat width," and he was correct [1].
If you want full back development, then you’ll want to work your lats using a selection of different grips and movements including close or wide grip pulldowns.
You don’t have to be a bodybuilder to want a strong back; developing the lower lats is something everyone should aim to do, even if it’s part of an injury prevention measure.
The best part about training your back is that you don’t need an excessive amount of gym equipment; you’ll be able to perform the majority of lower lat exercises at home. So if you’ve got dumbbells, a barbell, resistance bands, or even a multi-gym, you’ll have no trouble doing these lower lat exercises.
What Causes Pain In Your Lower Lats? (Stretches For Release)
Usually, the pain in your lower lats is often caused by one or several factors such as overuse of the lat muscles, poor technique leading to a pulled lower lat muscle, or not warming up properly before you start exercising.
If you’re unfortunate enough to feel lower lat pain while working out, then you’ll know it’s not a pleasant experience. Occasionally the cause of the lower lat strain might be a postural problem, so if you tend to slouch...stop it.
To treat lower lat pain, the recommendation is RICE [2]. But, there are some lower lat stretches and exercises that you can do to loosen a tight lat muscle:
Combining the above exercises and stretches is ideal for warming the lower lats up before a workout.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Doing pull-ups daily won't be enough to work your lats to their fullest. Lower lat development requires you to work the back from multiple angles using a variety of exercises. And, the low volume of pull-ups may not be as effective compared to lat pulldowns.
If you’re feeling your muscles burning, this is normal; it’s a build-up of lactic acid as the muscles fatigue. However, if it’s a pain you’re feeling, it could be an injury or impingement. Try another exercise that doesn’t cause this pain and strengthen any weaknesses.
Yes, pushups will work all of your core muscles, including the lats (lattisimus dorsi), as they’ll be needed to create stability during the exercise. While they’re great to incorporate into a workout, I’d focus on the exercises listed in this article for maximum lower lat development.
100% you can. Each exercise I listed in this article can be performed from home using minimal equipment, even if you don’t have a home gym. All you need is a resistance band, dumbbells, or bar, and you’re good to go.
Conclusion
Developing the lower lats is essential for anyone looking to improve their physique and to build up strength.
Not only will they make you look awesome in a T-shirt, but a robust set of lats will help you perform other lifts, too, such as deadlifts, squats, and more.
Out of all the exercises in this list, I've found the best exercise for lower lat development to be the underhanded bent over row. It allows you to lift heavy weight to build lower lat thickness.
Choose a selection of the exercises mentioned in my list and add them to your upper back workout routine.
References:
1.https://www.muscleandfitness.com/flexonline/training/targeting-lower-lats/
2.https://www.healthline.com/health/latissimus-dorsi-pain#exercises
