TETSUBodyweight Standing Row (With Towel) vs London Bridge
The Bodyweight Standing Row (With Towel) and the London Bridge both train the upper back as their primary muscle. The Bodyweight Standing Row (With Towel) is bodyweight-only while the London Bridge uses a rope. Here is how they compare and when to pick each.
Side-by-side comparison
| Bodyweight Standing Row (With Towel) | London Bridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary muscle | upper back | upper back |
| Body part | back | back |
| Supporting muscles | biceps and shoulders | shoulders, biceps and forearms |
| Equipment | bodyweight | rope |
| Steps in our guide | 5 | 7 |
How each one starts
Bodyweight Standing Row (With Towel) — first steps
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a towel in front of you with both hands.
- Bend your knees slightly and hinge forward at the hips, keeping your back straight.
London Bridge — first steps
- Attach the rope to a high anchor point.
- Stand facing away from the anchor point with your feet shoulder-width apart.
Full step-by-step guides are linked below.
Which should you choose?
The Bodyweight Standing Row (With Towel) needs no equipment and scales through leverage, tempo and reps. If your gym has both options, neither is a wrong choice: pick the one that feels strongest through a full range, and swap after 6 to 8 weeks to keep the upper back adapting.
Full form guides
Common questions
Is the Bodyweight Standing Row (With Towel) better than the London Bridge?
Neither is universally better — both train the upper back as the primary mover. The Bodyweight Standing Row (With Towel) needs no equipment and scales through leverage, tempo and reps, while the London Bridge offers a different stimulus. Choose based on your equipment and which movement you can progress consistently.
Can I do both the Bodyweight Standing Row (With Towel) and the London Bridge in the same program?
Yes, but usually not in the same session — they overlap heavily on the upper back. A common setup is one as your main movement and the other on a second training day, or alternating them block by block.
Do the Bodyweight Standing Row (With Towel) and the London Bridge work the same muscles?
The primary muscle is the same: the upper back. Supporting muscles differ slightly — biceps and shoulders for the Bodyweight Standing Row (With Towel) versus shoulders, biceps and forearms for the London Bridge.
Track it in Tetsu
Tetsu tracks both movements separately, keeps your PRs per exercise, and tells you which one is actually progressing. Free to start.