Straight-Arm Pulldown
Hinge slightly at the hips and sweep the cable down to the thighs with nearly straight arms. Pure lat isolation without help from the biceps.
Muscles worked
Equipment
How to do it
- Stand facing a high cable with a bar or rope attachment.
- Hinge slightly at the hips and grip with nearly straight arms.
- Pull the shoulders down and set the lats before moving.
- Sweep the hands down in an arc to the front of the thighs.
- Pause briefly with the lats fully contracted.
- Return under control until you feel a deep lat stretch overhead.
Watch for
- Elbows bending into a pushdown.
- Torso bobbing up and down with the weight.
- Shoulders rolling forward at the stretch.
Breathing
Exhale as you sweep down, inhale as you return overhead.
Tip
Keep a slight, fixed elbow bend; only the shoulder joint should move.
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