Bent Over Two-Arm Long Bar Row
Bent Over Two-Arm Long Bar Row is an intermediate compound barbell exercise that mainly works your upper back, with help from your biceps and lats.


How to do the bent over two-arm long bar row
- Put weight on one of the ends of an Olympic barbell. Make sure that you either place the other end of the barbell in the corner of two walls; or put a heavy object on the ground so the barbell cannot slide backward.
- Bend forward until your torso is as close to parallel with the floor as you can and keep your knees slightly bent.
- Now grab the bar with both arms just behind the plates on the side where the weight was placed and put your other hand on your knee. This will be your starting position.
- Pull the bar straight up with your elbows in (to maximize back stimulation) until the plates touch your lower chest. Squeeze the back muscles as you lift the weight up and hold for a second at the top of the movement. Breathe out as you lift the weight. Tip: Use a stirrup or double handle cable attachment by hooking it under the end of the bar.
- Slowly lower the bar to the starting position getting a nice stretch on the lats. Tip: Do not let the plates touch the floor. To ensure the best range of motion, I recommend using small plates (25-lb ones) as opposed to larger plates (like 35-45lb ones).
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Muscles worked
Sets and reps
For strength, do 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest. For muscle growth, 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. Add a little weight when you hit the top of the range on every set.
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Start your free trialBent Over Two-Arm Long Bar Row alternatives
Exercises that train the same main muscle, including options with other equipment.
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Inverted RowBodyweight · Beginner
Bent Over RowBarbell · Beginner
Seated Cable RowCable · Beginner
Leverage High RowMachine · Beginner
Sled RowOther · BeginnerFAQ
What muscles does the bent over two-arm long bar row work?
It mainly works your upper back; your biceps and lats assist.
How many sets and reps of bent over two-arm long bar row should I do?
For strength, do 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps with 2-3 minutes of rest. For muscle growth, 3-4 sets of 8-12 reps with 90 seconds of rest. Add a little weight when you hit the top of the range on every set.
Is the bent over two-arm long bar row good for beginners?
It suits lifters with some experience. Beginners can start with a lighter weight or one of the alternatives below.