Machine-Assisted Pull-Up

What it is

A pull-up done on a machine with a knee pad or platform that offsets part of your bodyweight. It lets you train the full pull-up pattern with good form while you build up to unassisted reps. Lower the assistance over time.

Technique tips

• Pick enough assistance for clean full reps
• Start from straight arms
• Pull the chest toward the bar
• Lower under control

How to track your progress

Log the weight and reps of each set. Straddly turns every set into an estimated one-rep max, so a heavier single and a strong set of eight both count as progress, and it flags a personal record the moment you beat your best.