Cable straight-arm pulldown

Pull the cable handles along an arc toward the thighs while keeping elbow bend nearly fixed.

The model illustrates the general movement. Adjust the seat and handles to the machine you use.

Level

Basic

Equipment

Cable machine

Measure

reps

Tempo

2-1-1-0 (down, pause, up, pause)

Technique

1. Stand before a high pulley and hinge slightly at the hips.
2. Pull the handle toward the thighs without changing elbow bend.
3. Return under control without flaring the ribs or rocking.

Common mistakes

• Bending the elbows and turning it into a standard pulldown.
• Excessively arching the lower back.