1. Drills
  2. Gymnastics
  3. Strength

Pull-Up Lowers with a Coach

Lower yourself slowly from the top of a pull-up to build the pulling strength bars and rings need.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

With your coach, step up from a box so your chin is over the bar.

Core: As written. Aim for smooth form and compare only with your own last time.

Ages
14 and up
Time
10 min
Space
Gym or court
Bring
Bar, box, coach
Level · skill
Advanced · Strength

The steps

How it works

  1. With your coach, step up from a box so your chin is over the bar.
  2. Lower yourself as slowly as you can to straight arms.
  3. Step back onto the box.
  4. Do 3 sets of 3.

Coaching point

Slow down, all the way.

Safety: Only in a gym with a qualified coach and proper mats. Never try this at home.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Gym follow-the-leader: one person leads a movement and the group copies. Swap the leader each time.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (slower or smaller), Core (as written), More (one extra twist). Aim for smooth form and compare only with your own last time.

Story

You are an explorer crossing the gym like a jungle.

My best

Beat your own count

Aim for smooth form and compare only with your own last time. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

Print it now, or save it free

Free for families and teams

Save this drill to your child or team, free

Sign up and the free gymnastics week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.

14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free

Does your child's coach know about this?

An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.