Which is superior pull ups or chin ups

[Hopeful]

I was going to ask John this but I thought it would be a fun question to ask everyone. I've now been able to work up to reps of pull ups. I used to do just chin ups since they were easier for me. But in reviewing the videos on this site I've noticed there is only one chin up routine-- the close-grip chin up. So it lead me to thinking which is better overall developer. Are chin ups a fine enough progression by themselves or should one progress to the pull up? In other words are pull ups the strength determiner? The top exercise of the two? I was just wondering what everyone thought.

HOPEFUL

[tom]

Chin ups are easier because they use more muscle. Therefore, do the one that exercises the most muscle. On the other hand, you won't scale a fence doing a chin up. On the other hand, since the bar is there do both. Unless there is some physical condition preventing you from one, do both . . . and mixed grip, too.

Tom

[JoeJustice]

Pull-ups are probably more functional. Rock climbing, for example, rarely lets you get a chin-up grip to pull yourself up.

I thought pull-ups use more muscles? Chins focus on the biceps which are very strong, while pull-ups use shoulders and traps more which are often weaker in most men.

-Joe

[tom]

I'm going on vague memories of reading and having vague-er memories so don't trust me, but as I understand it, both use biceps, etc., but chin ups also use more back, a big plus.

However, again, there is no reason to not do both.

Tom

[Nathan]

Hey Joe,

I believe you are right my friend. Since the pull-ups use more muscles that are often weaker they tend to be harder for most men. Unless you are superman or of course John Peterson. All the best.

---Nathan

[omad0n]

Heh, who knew rock climbing would be brought up in another thread. I am a rock climber (about to go for todays session) and indeed the chin up is vastly harder, and as far as I've noticed much more beneficial for climbing. I don't know about the chin up, but I know one of the side effects of good pull ups is that you get a much better handshake, because your overall grip gets stronger. Plus as Nate said, you tend to workout more underdeveloped muscles with the pullups.

[marktb]

I just ran into this guy works at the local UPS store who's "been away" for several months. Well, he said he gained about 20 of looks to me of pure muscle doing ONLY PUSHUPS AND PULLUPS/CHINS. He literally looks like a machiine now. Oh, wiht NO DIRECT ARM WORK OR WEIGHTS.

Mark Baldwin

[Viking Dan]

I just ran into this guy works at the local UPS store who's "been away" for several months. Well, he said he gained about 20 of looks to me of pure muscle doing ONLY PUSHUPS AND PULLUPS/CHINS. He literally looks like a machiine now. Oh, wiht NO DIRECT ARM WORK OR WEIGHTS.

Mark Baldwin

I still think dips are more friendly to my shoulders than any of the push ups I've tried, but push ups seem like a more balanced upper body exercise.

As gut-busting as chin ups are, they have always been more elbow friendly than barbell curls. Not to mention they don't stress the lower back at all. On top of which, I doubt my 80 lb. barbell curls were as effective as chin ups at a weight of 190.

As for the muscles worked, exrx.net says:

Underhand Chin Ups

Muscles

Target
Latissimus Dorsi

Synergists
Brachialis
Brachioradialis
Teres Major
Deltoid, Posterior
Rhomboids
Levator Scapulae
Trapezius, Lower
Trapezius, Middle
Pectoralis Major, Sternal
Pectoralis Minor

Dynamic Stabilizers
Biceps Brachii
Triceps, Long Head

Pull Ups

Muscles

Target
Latissimus Dorsi

Synergists
Brachialis
Brachioradialis
Biceps Brachii
Teres Major
Rhomboids
Levator Scapulae
Pectoralis Minor
Trapezius, Lower
Pectoralis Major, Sternal

Dynamic Stabilizers
Triceps, Long Head