Lat exercises

Cable Straight-arm Pulldown

Also known as: Pull-over à la poulie haute · Πουλόβερ στην τροχαλία · straight arm pulldown · cable pullover · lat prayer

Primary
Lats
Equipment
Cable
Level
Beginner
Type
Isolation
Suggested rest
1 min

How to do the Cable Straight-arm Pulldown

  1. Stand facing the high pulley and grab the straight bar or rope with straight arms.

  2. Hinge slightly forward at the hips with your elbows softly bent.

  3. Sweep the bar down in an arc to your thighs, squeezing your lats.

  4. Return slowly until you feel a stretch in your back.

Sets and reps

GoalSetsRepsRest
Muscle growth2–410–151 min
Muscular endurance2–315–2545 s

When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add 2.5 kg (5 lb) next session and work back up.

Starting points from training research. Stop each set 1–3 reps short of failure.

Muscles worked

Primary

Lats

Secondary

Triceps

The widest muscles of your back pull the arms down and back. Pull-ups, pulldowns and rows with the elbows close to the body build the V-taper.

Alternatives

Same muscles, similar movement: swap in one of these if the Cable Straight-arm Pulldown doesn’t suit your gym or your joints.

Train smarter

Cable lat exercises