Building bigger back muscles can be challenging as you need to ensure you use the right type of equipment and back machines with the correct form. There are some essential back machines that can help you build your back muscle faster if performed correctly.

Here are the 10 essential back machines for Building Back muscle

• Lats Pulldown Machine
• T Bar Row Machine
• Bent-over Barbell Row Machine
• Bent/Standing Cable Row Machine
• Straight Arm Pulldown Machine
• Front Pulldown Machine
• Rear Delt Fly Machine
• Back Extension
• Pull up machine
• Seated cable Row Machine

1. Lats Pulldown Machine

Muscle Focus: Lats, Back Forearms, Biceps and Shoulders

4 Sets (10-12 Reps)

Lats pulldown back machine is recommended for building back muscle. Aesthetically, it will give the wings/V-shape and bigger lats will make your waist look smaller. Not only that, having stronger Lats helps stabilized the neck, shoulders and back.

There are different variants of Lats Pulldowns which can be performed which are :

• Wide Grip Lat Pulldown
• Side Straight Arm Pulldown
• Close Grip Lat Pulldown
• Cable Straight Arm Pulldown
• Supinated Lat Pulldown
• Alternating Lat Pulldown (With Handles)
• One Arm Lat Pulldown Machine
• Resistance Band Kneeling Lat Pulldown

All these variants of lats pulldown mainly focus on the lats muscle and other muscle groups too.

How to perform Lats Pulldown correctly?

Step 1 – Sit down and adjust your seat so your legs are locked correctly.

Step 2 – Grip near the edge of the bar.

Step 3 – Keep your chest up.

Step 4 – Pull the bar down to your chin/upper chest area and squeeze your back.

Step 5 – Focus on your back when pulling the weight down (muscle memory).

Tips

Remember, you might be swinging if the weight is heavy, so slow build up your weights on Lats pull down but make sure you perform it correctly.

2. T Bar Row Machine

Muscle Focus: Upper and Lower Back, Biceps, Forearms, Hamstrings/Glutes and Core muscles

4 Sets (10-12 Reps)

T Bar Row Machine is a compound movement back exercise that will mainly focus on the back muscle called Latissimus dorsi, Trapezius, Posterior deltoid and Rhomboids. This pulling exercise will help define your back and give thicker back dept.

There are different variants of T Bar Row which can be performed which are :

• Underhand Barbell Row
• Seated Close Grip Cable Row.
• Dumbbell Row
• Chest Supported Row
• Banded Row
• Pendlay Row
• Yates Row
• TRX – Row

How to perform T Bar Row Machine correctly?

Step 1 – Grab the T bar place it on the barbell.

Step 2 – Bend down at a 60-degree angle and ensure your back is straight.

Step 3 – Keep your chest out.

Step 4 – Pull the bar up to your upper chest area and squeeze your back.

Step 5 – Focus on your back when pulling the weight up (muscle memory).

Step 6 – Go all the way down to get the stretch and repeat the process.

Tips

Make sure your back is straight through the whole workout. As a beginner try to avoid targeting heavyweights on this workout as you can get hurt easily.

3. Bent-over Barbell Row Smith Machine

Muscle Focus: Upper and Lower Back, Biceps, Forearms, Rear deltoids Hamstrings/Glutes and Core muscles

4 Sets (10-12 Reps)

Bent-over Barbell Row back Machine is a compound movement exercise just like T bar Row Machine but the grip is so different. This exercise mainly focuses on the back muscle called Latissimus dorsi, Trapezius, Posterior deltoid and Rhomboids. This pulling exercise will help define your back and give thicker back dept.

There are different variants of Bent-over Barbell Smith Row Machine which can be performed which are :

• Pendlay Row
• Yates Row (Underhand Bent-Over Row) 
• Seated Cable Row
• T-Bar Row
• Barbell Corner Row (Barbell T-Bar Row)
• Barbell Seal Row
• Helms Row
• Chest-Supported Row
• Machine Row
• Inverted Row
• Barbell Dead Row

How to perform Bent-over Barbell Smith Row Machine correctly?

Step 1 – Bend down at a 60-degree angle and ensure your back is straight.

Step 2 – Grab the smith machine bar place with the wrist facing away from you.

Step 3 – Keep your chest out.

Step 4 – Pull the bar up to your upper chest area and squeeze your back.

Step 5 – Focus on your back when pulling the weight up (muscle memory).

Step 6 – Go all the way down to get the stretch and repeat the process.

Tips

Make sure your back is straight through the whole workout. As a beginner try to avoid targeting heavyweights on this workout as you can get hurt easily.

4. Bent/Standing Cable Row Machine

Muscle Focus: Upper and Lower Back, Biceps, Forearms, Rear deltoids Hamstrings/Glutes and Core muscles

4 Sets (10-12 Reps)

One of the underrated back machines is the Bent/Standing Cable Row Machine. They are another pulling row workout but very effective if performed correctly. This exercise mainly focuses on the back muscle called Latissimus dorsi, Trapezius, Posterior deltoid, Rhomboids and biceps.

There are different variants of Bent/Standing Cable Row Machine which can be performed which are :

• Pendlay Row
• Yates Row (Underhand Bent-Over Row) 
• Seated Cable Row
• T-Bar Row
• Barbell Corner Row (Barbell T-Bar Row)
• Barbell Seal Row
• Helms Row
• Chest-Supported Row
• Machine Row
• Inverted Row
• Barbell Dead Row

How to perform Bent-over Barbell Smith Row Machine correctly?

Step 1 – Grab the rope attachment and move two-step back away from the machine.

Step 2 – Bend down at a 60-degree angle and ensure your back is straight.

Step 3 – Keep your chest out.

Step 4 – Pull the bar up to your core/abs and squeeze your back.

Step 5 – Focus on your back when pulling the weight up (muscle memory).

Step 6 – Go all the way forwards to get the stretch and repeat the process.

Tips

When performing this exercise make you don’t lean forward or back but in a fixed position. Push your chest forward and arms back while squeezing your back.

5. Straight Arm Pulldown Machine

Muscle Focus: Lats, Upper back, Read deltoid, Triceps, Chest and Core

Straight Arm Pulldown machine is a great exercise when focusing on your upper back and lats. This back machine will help you get a wider and thicker back. When doing this exercise you need to ensure your form is correct.

4 Sets (10-12 Reps)

There are different variants of Straight Arm Pulldown Machine which can be performed are :

• Dumbbell Pullover
• Kettlebell Pullover
• Gironda Pulldown

How to perform a Straight Arm Pulldown Machine correctly?

Step 1 – Bent down at a 60-degree angle

Step 2 – Grab the rope attachment with a straight arm.

Step 3 – Pull the Rope down to your legs with a straight arm squeeze your back.

Step 4 – While pulling the weight down push yourself to upwards

Step 5 – Focus on your back when pulling the weight down (muscle memory).

Step 6 – Repeat the process.

Tips

Make sure your arms are straight throughout the workout. When performing this exercise make you don’t lean forward or back but in a fixed position. Also, make sure your squeeze your back on every rep.

6. Rear Delt fly Machine

Muscle Focus: Rear Delts, Upper Back and Arms

4 Sets (10-12 Reps)

The rear delt back machine mainly targets posterior deltoid muscle (back shoulder muscle), trapezius (traps) and upper back. This helps strengthen muscles used for lifting heavy weights whilst ensuring stable shoulder muscle movement.

Alternative variations of rear delt fly are:

• Standing Bent-Over with Dumbbells
• Seated Bent-Over with Dumbbells
• Seated Bent-Over on an Incline Bench
• Standing Bent-Over with one arm using a Lower Cables
• Standing with two arns using Upper Cables
• Standing Bent-Over With One Arm Using A Dumbbell

How to perform the Rear Delt Back Machine correctly?

Step 1 – Seat facing towards the seat

Step 2 – Keep your chest up towards the seat and arch your bum back.

Step 3 – Grab the handle and push the machine outwards until both your hands are straight at 180-degree angle.

Step 4 – Squeeze your back on every rep.

Step 5 – Focus on your back when pushing the weight outside (muscle memory).

Step 6 – Repeat the process.

Tips

Make sure your arms are straight throughout the workout. When performing this exercise make you in a fixed position. Also, make sure to squeeze your back on every rep.

7. Front Pull Down Machine

Muscle Focus: Lats, Back Forearms, Biceps and Shoulders

4 Sets (10-12 Reps)

Front pull down works the latissimus dorsi muscle (broadest muscle of the back, also known as lats) through the downward rotation and depression of the scapulae (shoulder blade), thus targeting the back width.

Alternative to front pull down back machine:

• Single Arm Bench Supported Row
• Kroc Row
• Dumbbell Bentover Row
• Incline Dumbbell Row
• Decline Dumbbell Pullovers

How to perform the Front Pull Down Machine correctly?

Step 1 – Sit down and adjust your seat so your legs are locked correctly.

Step 2 – Grip near the edge or middle of the handle.

Step 3 – Keep your chest up.

Step 4 – Pull the bar down to so you hand are next to your ears and squeeze your back.

Step 5 – Focus on your back when pulling the weight down (muscle memory).

Tips

Remember, you might be swinging if the weight is heavy, so slow build up your weights on Lats pull down but make sure you perform it correctly.

8. Back Extension Machine

Muscle focus: Lower Back and Core

3 Sets (10-12 Reps)

Back extensions, also known as hyperextension, focus lower back muscles, erector spinae (which supports lower spine), glutes, hamstrings and shoulder muscles. This helps in gaining stronger back muscles as well as a better overall posture.

Alternative for Back Extension Machine are :

• Good mornings
• Romanian deadlift
• Reverse hyperextensions
• Snatch grip deadlifts
• Cable pull-through
• Barbell hip thrusts
• Flat bench hyperextensions
• Superman

How to perform the Back Extension correctly?

Step 1 – Get into the back extension machine where you legs are locked

Step 2 – Starting position is where your body is straight.

Step 3 – Close your hand like your hugging someone.

Step 4 – Push down to get the streach.

Step 5 – Push up your upper body and squeeze the back until the body is straight up.

Step 6 – Repeat the process.

Tips

Try holding for 1-2 seconds the position when pushing up.

9. Pull up Machine

Muscle focus: Lats, Back, Biceps, Shoulders and Chest

4 Sets (10-12 Reps)

Pull up bar targets lats and biceps mainly, with some focus on deltoids, rhomboids and core. This strength training exercise strengthens upper body muscles and the core. Additionally, improving grip strength.

Variations of pull up bar:

• For beginners, hanging from the pull up bar until muscle failure, assisted pull ups using resistance bands
• For advanced, hanging from pull up bar wearing weight belt
• Bodyweight rows
• Overhead dumbbell press
• Kettle swings
• Back bridge Push-Ups

How to perform the Pull ups correctly?

Step 1 – Grip the pull bar with shoulder width or wider and palm facing away from the body

Step 2 – Grip the pull bar as hard as you can and ensure your legs are in the air.

Step 3 – Pull yourself up until the your chin or upper chest is next to you hands.

Step 4 – Squeeze you back while pull the yourself up.

Step 5 – Drop you body back down and making sure your feets are still above the floor

Step 6 – Repeat the process.

Tips

Squeeze your back every reps and make sure your breath in and out. Also, do clean reps; go the way down to get the maximum stretch and then pull yourself up for every reps.

10. Seated Cable Row Machine

Muscle Focus: Upper and Lower Back, Biceps, Forearms, Rear deltoids Hamstrings/Glutes and Core muscles

4 Sets (10-12 Reps)

Seated Cable Row Machine primarily targets lats and rhomboids, with trapezius and biceps also being activated.

Alternatives of Seated Cable Row Machine are:

• Dumbbell rows
• Barbell Bent-over Row
• Standing cable row
• Landmine row
• Lat pulldown

How to perform the Seated Cable Row Machine correctly?

Step 1 – Sit down on the seat with leg slightly bent

Step 2 – Grip the bar with shoulder width and palm facing away from the body.

Step 3 – Pull the bar back so the bar comes to the core.

Step 4 – Make sure the back is straight and squeeze your back hard while pulling the bar back.

Step 5 – Let the bar push you forward to get the stretch but ensure the back is straight.

Step 6 – Repeat the process.

Tips

Make sure your back is straight all the time and squeeze you back on every rep. Keep the weight medium heavy so you not swinging the weight.