Because of the differences in grip, chin-ups mainly work muscles in the front of your body, whereas pull-ups focus on the back muscles.

“Your grip strength is tested and improved through pull-ups because maintaining a firm hold on the bar throughout the exercise activates the forearm muscles,” he adds.

Discover the deets about pull-ups: muscles worked (there are a ton!), along with a how-to, benefits, and modifications.

To explain why the grip makes a difference, you first need to understand that elbow pain from pull-ups likely starts because you’re probably trying to cheat your reps.

You can get bars that have a close, wide, and neutral grip—all of which will impact your muscles in slightly different ways. How We Selected ...

Here is a list of exercises that are easier than a strict pull-up, but they work the same muscles. Pick something that feels challenging but doable, and you'll get even closer to your goal of ...

These 5 dumbbell exercises build stronger back and biceps muscles. Here's how to do them, according to a personal trainer.

Build stronger back and biceps muscles and prepare for pull-ups using the bodyweight row. Here's how to do it, according to a personal trainer.

3. Mixed Grip Pull-Up The Mixed Grip Pull-Up challenges your body by creating an uneven grip, requiring your muscles to adjust, recruiting more muscle activation in an unfamiliar situation.

“Your grip strength is tested and improved through pull-ups because maintaining a firm hold on the bar throughout the exercise activates the forearm muscles,” he adds.