Pullups, chinups - technique question

[coreJack]

Is it ok to bounce off the bottom - i.e., bounce once your arms get straight? Am I bouncing off my shoulder joint (bad) or off the biceps and upper back muscles (good)?

Would I be better off pausing very briefly with straight arms before coming back up? [If so, I'm going to need a massive deload.]

[DeadStrength]

It would depend I would say. "Bounce" is what's throwing me off. If your shoulder blades are locked in position and at the bottom you are using a muscular stretch reflex like you would in the squat/bench press, etc. then that's fine.

If you are relaxing the shoulder on the way down though and "bouncing" as your scapula slides up and out to your sides with no muscular tension then that's not good.

[coreJack]

No, I'm not relaxing at the bottom. Just checked Starting Strength. Rip says to breathe at the bottom, at complete shoulder and elbow extension. No way I can do the current weight I'm using (~35lbs) with that technique. Looks like a massive deload is in my near future.