Barbell rows are great for building up your back. Once you set your back and hips into an immovable position you will be able to, for example, lift 80kg (or whatever that is in lbs) by sheer strength.

But if you reduce that weight to, for example, 40kg and pull your shoulder blades together and pause at the top and squeeze and lower under control, without moving at the hips, I'll almost guarantee you'll feel the workout in your lats a lot more than the 80kg workout.

Both methods have their place, but if it's mind/muscle connection you need to learn the the 40kg method is the way to go.