How many pullups can you do?

Tim Hancock · 11-08-2022, 05:30 AM

Myself and some old college buddies (54-57 years old) started challenging each other with doing pullups awhile back. A couple of us that started at around 8 or 9 have made it to 13 with my personal goal of getting to 15 by this spring.

Was telling some of my younger 30-40 something co-workers about our friendly little competition and most claimed they would be lucky to do 3-5.

I have never gone to a gym and I only do situps and pushups a few times a week to stay slightly fit. I never really did pullups prior to one of my college buddies issuing the challenge. Our wives think we are acting like kids, but the competitive nature is a good thing if it gives us a reason to stay a bit more fit later in life.

Just curious as to how many pullups an average man can do these days and at what age. I tend to think that people are getting less physically active these days than previous generations.

herr_oberst · 06:02 AM

Pullups have always been no bueno for me. I could probably do one really ugly one.

(But I could ride a century on my bicycle right now, I can easily drop and give you 50, I can balance on either foot - I'm 63 and I make it a point to put my socks on standing up and I walk a lot. Yesterday i got in 6 miles, so I'll accept that others will smoke me at the chinup bar)

edit. I realize that probably came off as brag, and that's probably true, but I was also trying to reassure myself that I'm still in fairly decent condition even though I can't muster strength and agility in all capacities.

Seahawk · 11-08-2022, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Pullups have always been no bueno for me. I could probably do one really ugly one.

Pull-ups have never been my forte. To get to five, the minimum for AOCS, I really had to focus on preparing for the test. I have not done five in a row since.

I probably could do one in a row today...emphasis on the "probably".

My son, he of chimp strength, can bang out 20 without effort.

We no longer speak

gregpark · 11-08-2022, 06:05 AM

2, with effort and a brief rest in between. Pulling up my socks gets a little tougher every year

Tim Hancock · 11-08-2022, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Pullups have always been no bueno for me. I could probably do one really ugly one.

(But I could ride a century on my bicycle right now, I can easily drop and give you 50, I can balance on either foot - I'm 63 and I make it a point to put my socks on standing up and I walk a lot. Yesterday i got in 6 miles, so I'll accept that others will smoke me at the chinup bar)

In basic training for the Army in the 80's, we had to do 40 pushups and 40 situps to pass the PT test (this was easy as an 18 yr old in decent shape). Those are the only two exercises I have kept up on through the years and I hope I can keep that up into my 70's at least.

You definitely have me beat on cardio.... I HATE running and would be hard pressed to jog a mile non stop. I get winded leisurely riding a mountain bike around a campground. lol

I don't claim to be in great shape, I was just curious regarding pullups as I go back and forth over whether it is worth trying to get to higher number to try and keep ahead of my buddies.

David Inc. · 11-08-2022, 06:09 AM

Overhand style or underhand? Makes a big difference for me.

herr_oberst · 11-08-2022, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

I was just curious regarding pullups as I go back and forth over whether it is worth trying to get to higher number to try and keep ahead of my buddies.

Oh, hell yes it is!

It's worth focusing every ounce of time and energy to train hard and LAP your buddies at the chinup bar for your next gathering. 2nd place does 15? You do 30 and walk away from the bar like Jack Palance acting like you could do them one handed.

I know I would if I had the makings of chimp strength.

McLovin · 11-08-2022, 06:13 AM

That’s a good question.
I’m the same weight and waist size as when I was 15, and have gone to the gym regularly for years.
But I never do pull-ups and feel like I probably can’t do too many.
I’ll try today or tomorrow.

Tim Hancock · 11-08-2022, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Inc.

Overhand style or underhand? Makes a big difference for me.

We only do the underhand style.... For fitness sake, I should probably start doing both though. Every couple of weeks one of us posts a video for proof and then the rest of us try and match or beat it. I have found I can only go for max if i have not done any for a few days first. I have to time my record attempts to coincide with a few days of rest. lol

cassisrot · 11-08-2022, 06:32 AM

Pull-ups are tough! Doubt I could do any.

Tim Hancock · 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McLovin

That’s a good question.
I’m the same weight and waist size as when I was 15, and have gone to the gym regularly for years.
But I never do pull-ups and feel like I probably can’t do too many.
I’ll try today or tomorrow.

A a young man, pull ups were never a thing for me but in researching it, they are a pretty good form of exercise as they work more than just your biceps.

cantdrv55 · 11-08-2022, 06:38 AM

1 and done

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Pull-ups have never been my forte. To get to five, the minimum for AOCS, I really had to focus on preparing for the test. I have not done five in a row since.

I probably could do one in a row today...emphasis on the "probably".

My son, he of chimp strength, can bang out 20 without effort.

We no longer speak

It's just the case of totally different body types. You are trying to pull up a much larger body. Still, anyone who can do 20 good pull-ups at any age is really strong. I use to be able to do 10-12 really good pull-ups until I was about 50, (never did them religiously but once in a while), now I cannot do anywhere near that. I also used to be able to do handstand pushups when I was young and weighed 20 lbs. less, one armed pushups, etc. Not anymore.

I've made a commitment to getting in as good as possible shape for my age, though. I've really slipped with laziness and some illnesses that have set me back. I want to be able to ski this winter without having a heart attack! And good for you, Tim. That's a healthy competition.

IROC · IROC's Garage

I would offer a word of caution. I was watching some youtube guy advising older people (like 50+) on the benefits of weight training (which I am a big fan of). This guy was over 50 himself and obviously was a gym rat. He told a story of hopping up and cranking out some pullups like he had hundreds of times before only this time, he tore a bicep muscle. His message was that "you're not 25 anymore" and you really need to take it easy.

I jumped down on the floor a few months ago to show one of my kids how to do a "proper" pushup and promptly tore/strained something in my neck/collarbone area. It took me months to get over that. And just a few short years ago (around 50 - I'm 58 now), I could easily crank out 45 "proper" pushups on demand.

masraum · 11-08-2022, 08:00 AM

There was a time that I could easily do 20 pull-ups (curious if you're doing pull ups or chin ups). There was also a time when I could climb a 30' rope using my arms (no leg assist).

For a long time I could still manage 10 pull ups. I don't know if I could manage any right now. I want to build a pull up bar in the garage to start working on that.

masraum · 11-08-2022, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Pullups have always been no bueno for me. I could probably do one really ugly one.

(But I could ride a century on my bicycle right now, I can easily drop and give you 50, I can balance on either foot - I'm 63 and I make it a point to put my socks on standing up and I walk a lot. Yesterday i got in 6 miles, so I'll accept that others will smoke me at the chinup bar)

edit. I realize that probably came off as brag, and that's probably true, but I was also trying to reassure myself that I'm still in fairly decent condition even though I can't muster strength and agility in all capacities.

If you're 63 and can do 50 pushups and cycle a century, I'm giving you an official pass to brag a little. (it was mild).

911 Rod · 911 Rod's Garage

I might be able to do one if I could find a bar strong enough

Tim Hancock · 11-08-2022, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

There was a time that I could easily do 20 pull-ups (curious if you're doing pull ups or chin ups)

This is how we are doing them.... underhanded.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 11-08-2022, 08:18 AM

I'm 54 and just did 5 and half overhand. That was painful. Will try underhand tomorrow. I think 10 would be easy.

Hiked up an advanced level mountain with 2 peaks in the White Mountains last Sunday. That was seriously challenging scrabbling up rock faces at the top of both peaks, a few were close to vertical for 10 feet and you had to both use your legs and pull with your arms to get up.

I love the fact that I work, many days are 8 hours of aerobics. Have had desk jobs, not for me.

masraum · 11-08-2022, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Pull-ups have never been my forte. To get to five, the minimum for AOCS, I really had to focus on preparing for the test. I have not done five in a row since.

I probably could do one in a row today...emphasis on the "probably".

My son, he of chimp strength, can bang out 20 without effort.

We no longer speak

I've got a buddy that was (is) a marine. I don't know how old he is, but I'm going to say at least mid 40s. He said that when he was in the marines, there were the guys that could easily pass the running, and there were the guys that could easily pass the pull-up test, and it was rare that folks could easily do both.

When I was a kid, I could have managed both. My legs and core have always been my strength (NPI) and upper body / arm strength have always been my weakness. A few years ago, I ran a 10k, and then 1.5 years later, I rode in an MS150.