T-Bar Row with Handle

A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a barbell.

T-Bar Row with Handle — Starting position Starting position
T-Bar Row with Handle — End position End position
Difficulty Beginner
Type Strength
Equipment Barbell
Primary Muscle Upper Back
AI Rep Counting Log manually

How to Do T-Bar Row with Handle

  1. Position a bar into a landmine or in a corner to keep it from moving. Load an appropriate weight onto your end.
  2. Stand over the bar, and position a Double D row handle around the bar next to the collar. Using your hips and legs, rise to a standing position.
  3. Assume a wide stance with your hips back and your chest up. Your arms should be extended. This will be your starting position.
  4. Pull the weight to your upper abdomen by retracting the shoulder blades and flexing the elbows. Do not jerk the weight or cheat during the movement.
  5. After a brief pause, return to the starting position.

Muscles Worked

Front
Back

Primary

Where T-Bar Row with Handle does most of its work.

Secondary

Assisting and stabilising muscles.

Alternatives to T-Bar Row with Handle

10 movements that train the same primary muscle, closest substitutes first — same kind of training, then variations of the movement itself, then a similar difficulty.

  1. 1 Bent Over One-Arm Long Bar Row

    Bent Over One-Arm Long Bar Row

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a barbell.

    beginner Barbell
  2. 2 One-Arm Long Bar Row

    One-Arm Long Bar Row

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a barbell.

    beginner Barbell
  3. 3 Lying T-Bar Row

    Lying T-Bar Row

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a machine.

    intermediate Machines
  4. 4 Bent Over Two-Arm Long Bar Row

    Bent Over Two-Arm Long Bar Row

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a barbell.

    intermediate Barbell
  5. 5 Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row

    Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using dumbbells.

    beginner Dumbbells
  6. 6 Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row With Palms In

    Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row With Palms In

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using dumbbells.

    beginner Dumbbells
  7. 7 Dumbbell Incline Row

    Dumbbell Incline Row

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using dumbbells.

    beginner Dumbbells
  8. 8 Inverted Row with Straps

    Inverted Row with Straps

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back.

    beginner Not specified
  9. 9 Kneeling High Pulley Row

    Kneeling High Pulley Row

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a cable machine.

    beginner Cable Machine
  10. 10 Kneeling Single-Arm High Pulley Row

    Kneeling Single-Arm High Pulley Row

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a cable machine.

    beginner Cable Machine

Frequently Asked Questions

What muscles do t-bar row with handle work?

T-Bar Row with Handle primarily works the upper back. The biceps assist as secondary muscles.

What equipment do I need for t-bar row with handle?

T-Bar Row with Handle uses barbell.

T-Bar Row with Handle: is it suitable for beginners?

Yes. T-Bar Row with Handle is rated beginner. Movements you can learn in a session, with a low skill floor and a forgiving failure mode.

What can I do instead of t-bar row with handle?

Bent Over One-Arm Long Bar Row, One-Arm Long Bar Row, Lying T-Bar Row train the same primary muscles and are listed with 7 more alternatives above.

Can Fitnit count my t-bar row with handle reps automatically?

Not automatically yet. Fitnit's AI rep counting covers push-ups, squats, dumbbell curls, crunches and pull-ups today; t-bar row with handle can be logged manually in the app, and tracked movements are added over time.

Photographs and step-by-step instructions from free-exercise-db, a public-domain exercise dataset. Muscle mapping and alternatives by Fitnit.

Track Your T-Bar Row with Handle with AI

Fitnit automatically tracks push-ups, crunches, squats, pull-ups, and curls with advanced body tracking technology — and you can manually input any other workout too. Start free — Pro is $8.99/month.