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Exercise Guide

How to do cable straight arm pulldown(bar)

Master the setup, range of motion, and tempo for safer, more effective reps.

This isolation exercise targets the latissimus dorsi while minimizing bicep involvement. By maintaining straight arms and pulling a bar from overhead to your thighs, you engage the back and serratus anterior. It is an excellent finisher for back workouts, helping to improve mind-muscle connection and shoulder stability while providing a deep stretch and consistent tension throughout the entire movement.

Stats

TIER
2
DIFFICULTY
Untrained to Advanced
EQUIPMENT
Cable
TARGET MUSCLES
Back, Rear Shoulder

Instructions for Proper Form

Setup:

  1. Cable Machine & Attachment: Position the pulley on the high setting. Attach a straight bar or EZ-curl bar to the cable.
  2. Stance & Grip: Stand facing the machine, feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Grasp the bar with an overhand grip (palms facing down), hands wider than shoulder-width apart.
  3. Body Position: Hinge forward slightly from your hips, keeping your back flat, chest up, and core engaged. Your arms should be extended in front of you, creating tension in the cable.

The Lift:

  1. Initiate the Pulldown: Exhale and pull the bar down towards your thighs, keeping your arms straight and elbows slightly bent. Focus on engaging your lats (the large muscles on the sides of your back).
  2. Hold at the Bottom: Pause briefly at the bottom of the movement, feeling the stretch in your lats.
  3. Controlled Return: Inhale and slowly return the bar to the starting position, resisting the pull of the cable. Avoid letting your shoulders round forward.

Tips:

  • Focus on the Lats: Concentrate on using your lat muscles to pull the bar down, rather than relying on your arms.
  • Keep Arms Straight: Maintain a slight bend in your elbows, but avoid bending them excessively as you pull down.
  • Hip Hinge: Initiate the movement by hinging at your hips, not by rounding your back.
  • Control the Movement: Avoid swinging your torso or using momentum. The movement should be smooth and controlled.

Common mistakes: Bending the elbows to turn the movement into a triceps pushdown and using momentum by swinging the torso.

Alternatives

Cable

lat prayer

Back
Pull Up Bar

chin up

BackBiceps+1
Lat Pulldown

lat pulldown(wide bar)

BackBiceps+1
Row Cable

cable seated one arm row

BackBiceps+1
Pull Up Bar

chin up

BackBiceps+1
Lat Pulldown

lat pulldown behind the neck

BackBiceps+1
Dumbbell

dumbbell bent over row

BackBiceps+1
Pull Up Bar

chin ups narrow parallel grip

BackBiceps+1
Pull Up Bar

pull up

BackBiceps+1
Lat Pulldown

cable one arm lat pulldown

BackBiceps+1
Pull Up Bar

close grip chin up

BackBiceps+1
Lat Pulldown

lat pulldown

BackBiceps+1
Row Cable

cable seated row

BackBiceps+1
Barbell

barbell bent over row

BackBiceps+1
Cable

cable straigth arm pulldown(rope)

BackRear Shoulder
Cable

cable straight arm pulldown(bar)

BackRear Shoulder
Barbell

barbell underhand bent over row

BackBiceps
Lat Pulldown

cable seated high row(v-bar)

BackBiceps+1
Bench

dumbbell chest supported row

BackBiceps+1
Front Pulldown

machine front pulldown

BackBiceps+1
Dumbbell

dumbbell one arm row(with support)

BackBiceps+1
Barbell

barbell chest supported row

BackBiceps+1
Barbell

t-bar row(v-grip)

BackBiceps+1
Landmine

t-bar row

BackBiceps+1
Lat Pulldown

cable wide grip behind neck pulldown

BackBiceps+1
Low Row Machine

machine low row

BackBiceps+1
Barbell

barbell reverse grip supported row

BackBiceps+1
Pulldown Machine

machine lateral pulldown

BackBiceps+1
Lat Pulldown

lat pulldown reverse close grip

BackBiceps+1
High Row Machine

machine high row

BackBiceps+1
Row Cable

cable low seated row

BackBiceps+1
Seated Row Machine

machine seated row

BackBiceps+1
Cable

cable pulldown(v-bar)

BackRear Shoulder
None

sliding floor pulldown on towel

BackBiceps
None

superman row with towel

BackBiceps
Row Cable

cable seated row(rope)

BackBiceps+1
Rings

ring high suspended row

BackBiceps+1
Squat Rack

inverted row bend knees

BackRear Shoulder+1
Kettlebell

kettlebell bent over row

BackBiceps+1
Rings

ring suspended row

BackBiceps+1
Dumbbell

dumbbell pull over

BackChest+2
Resistance Band

band seated row

BackBiceps+1
Rowing Machine

rowing on rowing machine

BackQuads+2