Wesley Vissers Reveals 5 Exercises for a Broad Back! Here's How He's Preparing for the 2027 Arnold Classic

Dutch bodybuilder Wesley Vissers is one of the most prominent competitors in the Classic Physique division today. After a successful 2026 season, during which he won the Arnold Classic in Ohio and the Detroit Pro, he is now focusing on his next big goal. At the 2027 Arnold Classic, he wants to compete for the top spots once again.

Although he placed fourth at this year’s Mr. Olympia, he knows full well that even slight differences in muscle development can make all the difference among the top competitors. And that’s precisely why he pays special attention to his back. In a video posted on November 1, he showcased five exercises he uses to develop the width of his back, particularly the lower portion of the latissimus dorsi.

Five Exercises Wesley Vissers Swears By

Vissers’ workout combines various pull-up variations, pulldowns, and more isolated movements.

• 1. Lower Lat High Row machine pulls – 2 sets of 10–15 reps. Vissers focuses on bringing his elbows toward his sides. By supporting his chest against the machine, he can better control the movement and minimize the involvement of other body parts.
• 2. 55°-Angle Machine Rows – 2 sets of 10–12 reps. He uses this exercise to provide a more comprehensive back workout. It emphasizes, above all, a thorough stretch of the muscles and the subsequent retraction of the shoulder blades.
• 3. Seated rows – 2 sets of 10–15 reps. According to Vissers, these allow for a high-quality stretch of the back muscles and natural movement. He also noted that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronnie Coleman used similar variations.
• 4. Underhand lat pulldowns – 2 sets of 10–15 reps. According to him, a full range of motion is important. He also allows experienced athletes to use slight torso movement, but not uncontrolled swinging.
• 5. Pulley pullover – 2 sets of 12–15 reps. He includes this final exercise to achieve a significant stretch followed by contraction of the latissimus dorsi.

Stretching and contraction. Two details that matter

During training, Vissers repeatedly emphasizes the importance of controlled movement. According to him, it’s not enough to simply move weights from one place to another. It’s also important to feel the target muscles working and to use an appropriate range of motion. At the same time, it’s important to note that the lower portion of the latissimus dorsi cannot be perfectly isolated during these exercises. However, varying the direction of the pulls can alter the distribution of the load across individual muscles and areas of the back.

For regular gym-goers, therefore, the most important thing may not be to precisely replicate Vissers’ entire plan, but to adopt his emphasis on technique and the gradual increase in training load.

A broad back is built over the long term

The foundation of muscle growth remains regular strength training, adequate calorie intake, and quality recovery. If you want to improve your performance during repeated short-term, high-intensity efforts, you may want to consider GymSupps Creatine Monohydrate. A daily intake of 3 grams of creatine contributes to increased physical performance during this type of exercise.

GymSupps XWhey Protein is also a practical option for protein supplementation, as protein contributes to the growth and maintenance of muscle mass. Wesley Vissers demonstrates that even at the professional level, the details can make all the difference. A broad back isn’t built with a single “miracle” exercise, but through long-term effort.