# Doing more pull-ups

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doing-more-pull-ups/152204>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 2, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doing-more-pull-ups/152204 "2003-02-02T00:49:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mongrel\_8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@mongrel\_8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mongrel_8)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doing-more-pull-ups/152204/1 "2003-02-02T00:49:55Z")

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I am doing Army ROTC in college and am hoping to get a spot for airborne school this summer. However, being able to do pull-ups (5 or 10 depending on who I have talked to) is a requirement before going and then during the training.

What I am wondering is how can I do more pull-ups? I can currently do 3-4. I have always had trouble doing pull-ups, but haven’t understood why. This last semester I was able to max my push up portion of the PT test. This means I was able to do at least 71 in 2 minutes. But I still can’t do pull-ups.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doing-more-pull-ups/152204/2 "2003-02-02T01:05:27Z")

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check out [this](http://www.bodyresults.com/e2pullups.asp) article

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**Author:** ![gonzalo\_de\_cordoba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/848f3c/32.png) [@gonzalo\_de\_cordoba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzalo_de_cordoba)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doing-more-pull-ups/152204/3 "2003-02-02T02:01:32Z")

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What I do is usually three sets of 10 -12 reps for pullups. When I reach the point where I cannot do the pullup, I complete the set by jumping up from the floor, grabbing the bar, and lowering myself down slowly. Let go, jump up, and lower slowly. I Do this so I can get a full three sets of 10 or so, just like I do on other exercises.

Hope it helps, good luck in Benning.

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**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doing-more-pull-ups/152204/4 "2003-02-02T02:25:42Z")

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Do negatives. Step up on a step or something that puts you in the pulled up position, and lower yourself as slowly as possible and it will increase your positive strength.

OTR in airborne school I can guaruntee they are going to expect more than 5 pull ups out of you. 10 sounds like a first day requirement.