Pull-up form: chin over the bar and even arms

A pull-up only counts when your chin clears the bar. That's GymSensei's rule too, and it watches both arms to make sure one isn't doing all the pulling.

How to do it

1. Hang from the bar, hands a little wider than your shoulders, arms straight.
2. Pull your shoulder blades down and back.
3. Pull until your chin is over the bar.
4. Lower all the way until your arms are straight before the next rep.

What counts as a full rep

Both elbows have to bend from about 150° to 80° or less, and your nose has to come up above your hands. That's the camera's version of chin over the bar.

What the camera calls out

You hear a short cue mid-set when something's off. After the set, the report card gives you one line on whichever fault came up most.

Setting up your phone

Face the phone from about 3 steps back, with the phone low and tilted up so the bar and your feet fit.

Start hanging with your arms straight. Only reps with your chin over the bar count.

Muscles worked

Mostly your lats, with your biceps and middle back helping.

Exercises this check works on

• Pull-up
• Chin-up
• Band-assisted pull-up
• V-bar pull-up

A tip from the coach

Can't do one yet? Loop a resistance band over the bar and put a foot or knee in it. Band-assisted pull-ups are counted the same way.

Other exercises

• Squat
• Push-up
• Lunge
• Romanian deadlift
• Overhead press
• Biceps curl
• Plank
• Glute bridge
• Sit-up
• Lying leg raise
• Lateral raise
• Bent-over row
• Jumping jacks
• Wall sit
• Side plank

Updated 11 October 2026. General fitness and nutrition guidance, not medical advice.