Cable Exercises
Cable rows, pulldowns, flyes, curls, pushdowns and anti-rotation work, with tension that never drops off.
19 exercises
What cable training is good for
A cable pulls in a straight line toward the pulley, so unlike a dumbbell it doesn't get easier at the top or the bottom of a rep. That constant tension is why cables suit flyes, lateral raises, pushdowns and curls, where a free weight gives you almost nothing at the point where the muscle is shortest. Moving the pulley changes the angle of resistance, so a single station covers pulls from overhead, from chest height and from the floor.
Cables are also the simplest way to train rotation and to resist it — woodchops, Pallof presses and single-arm rows load the trunk in ways a barbell can't. Stand where the cable stays in line with the muscle you're working, keep your torso from swaying to help the weight along, and let the stack come back under control instead of dropping it. Because the load is smooth and the risk is low, cables are a good place to push the last sets of a session close to failure.