Cable Exercises
A cable stack keeps tension on the muscle for the whole rep, including the positions where a dumbbell goes weightless. Because you set the pulley height and stand where you like, you can attack a muscle from angles free weights cannot reach: crossovers from above, pushdowns from a high pulley, low rows and front raises from the floor. That makes cables the best tool on the floor for isolation and for the stretched end of a movement.
Why train with cable
- Constant tension through the full rep, including lockout and stretch
- Any pulley height and body angle for lines free weights cannot copy
- Small load jumps make progressive overload easy on small muscles
- Joint-friendly enough to train hard when heavy pressing is off the table
Cable exercises by muscle group
All 27 cable exercises
27 free cable exercises covering chest, back, shoulders, arms, core. Open any guide for an animated GIF demonstration, numbered form cues, and sets and reps by training goal.
Cable Incline Fly (on Stability Ball)Pectorals · Cable · Beginner
Cable Standing Up Straight CrossoversPectorals · Cable · Intermediate
Cable Middle FlyPectorals · Cable · Advanced
Cable Rope Crossover Seated RowUpper Back · Cable · Intermediate
Cable Rope Elevated Seated RowUpper Back · Cable · Intermediate
Cable One Arm Straight Back High Row (kneeling)Upper Back · Cable · Intermediate
Cable Reverse-grip Straight Back Seated High RowUpper Back · Cable · Advanced
Cable Standing Shoulder External RotationDelts · Cable · Beginner
Cable Front RaiseDelts · Cable · Beginner
Cable Supine Reverse FlyDelts · Cable · Beginner
Cable Kneeling Rear Delt Row (with Rope) (male)Delts · Cable · Intermediate
Cable One Arm Tricep PushdownTriceps · Cable · Beginner
Cable Lying Triceps Extension V. 2Triceps · Cable · Intermediate
Cable Rope Lying On Floor Tricep ExtensionTriceps · Cable · Intermediate
Cable Alternate Triceps ExtensionTriceps · Cable · Intermediate
Cable Rope High Pulley Overhead Tricep ExtensionTriceps · Cable · Intermediate
Cable Triceps Pushdown (v-bar)Triceps · Cable · Intermediate
Cable KickbackTriceps · Cable · Advanced
Cable Seated CrunchAbs · Cable · Beginner
Cable Standing LiftAbs · Cable · Beginner
Cable CrossoverPectorals · Cable · Beginner
Wide-Grip Lat PulldownLats · Cable · Beginner
Seated Cable RowUpper Back · Cable · Beginner
Face PullDelts · Cable · Beginner
Triceps PushdownTriceps · Cable · Beginner
Overhead Triceps ExtensionTriceps · Cable · Beginner
Cable CrunchAbs · Cable · Beginner