2.) On the lateral pull down machine, is it true that it will make your back more the shape of a V? I do this as well as chin ups each workout now (since I've heard that it changes the shape, I use to only do pull ups).
Lateral pull down? Do you mean "lat pull down?" I always thought the "lat" meant latissimus dorsi, not lateral, but I don't know.
Developing your lats will give you a V shape if you're not carrying extra weight on your waist. If that is the case, you'll still have a V shape you just won't be able to see it.
When the lats get big, they look like a V. So, yes, lat pull downs have the potential to give you a V shape. So do pullups (hands a few inches out from shoulder width and palms facing AWAY from you). If you do pullups with your palms in and your hands close together, it will hit mostly your biceps and your lats won't get that much benefit.
So, to answer your question, there's nothing special about the movement of a lat pull down machine, because it's the same as wide grip pullups. The only difference might be that a pulldown machine might give you the ability to use the proper amount of weight for you to adaquately stimulate muscle growth in the lats. Make sense?
If you get big lats, you will have a V shape. It doesn't matter what exercise you do to make them big, however. Pulldowns, pullups, bent over rows, whatever.
1 and 3: I dunno.
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