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Cable Machine Exercises

Cable machines run a cable over pulleys to a weight stack, so the resistance stays steady through the whole rep and can come from any direction: high, low, or straight ahead. Some machines are built for one exercise, like the lat pulldown and seated row; adjustable pulley towers handle many.

4 exercises, each animated in 3D. Drag to see them from any angle and watch which muscles do the work.

Cable crossover · Chest

Cable Crossover

A cable chest fly. Standing between two high pulleys, you sweep the handles down and together in front of your hips in a wide hugging arc.

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Lat pulldown machine · Lats

Lat Pulldown

A cable machine pull that trains the same muscles as a pull-up. Seated with your thighs braced, you pull a wide bar down to your upper chest.

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Seated cable row machine · Lats, Traps

Seated Cable Row

A seated cable pull for the middle of the back. With your feet braced and torso tall, you row a close-grip handle to your stomach.

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Cable machine · Triceps

Cable Triceps Rope Pushdown

A cable isolation move for the triceps. With your elbows pinned at your sides, you press a rope down until your arms are straight and spread the ends apart.

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Training with cables

Changing the weight is as quick as moving a pin, which suits higher-rep isolation work. Stand or sit so the cable lines up with the direction you're moving, and control the return instead of letting the stack pull you back.

The animations show general technique, not advice for your body. If you have an injury or are new to lifting, check your form with a qualified coach. See the Disclaimer.

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