Back
The main area this variation is designed to train.
Exercise guide
Underhand Cable Pulldowns
Learn how to do the Underhand Cable Pulldowns exercise, which muscles it works, the equipment you need, and common mistakes to avoid.
Cable
Use this to decide whether the movement fits your current setup.
Beginner
A quick checkpoint for how simple or technical the movement usually feels.
Back
Secondary support can come from Arms, Shoulders.
Strength
Movement pattern: pull. This is a compound exercise.
Learning and repeating well
Use this page to understand the setup first, then track the movement consistently in Logbook once it fits your program.
Instructions
How to do Underhand Cable Pulldowns
Keep the setup simple, use a controlled pace, and repeat the same movement pattern each rep.
- Sit down on a pull-down machine with a wide bar attached to the top pulley. Adjust the knee pad of the machine to fit your height. These pads will prevent your body from being raised by the resistance attached to the bar.
- Grab the pull-down bar with the palms facing your torso (a supinated grip). Make sure that the hands are placed closer than the shoulder width.
- As you have both arms extended in front of you holding the bar at the chosen grip width, bring your torso back around 30 degrees or so while creating a curvature on your lower back and sticking your chest out. This is your starting position.
- As you breathe out, pull the bar down until it touches your upper chest by drawing the shoulders and the upper arms down and back. Tip: Concentrate on squeezing the back muscles once you reach the fully contracted position and keep the elbows close to your body. The upper torso should remain stationary as your bring the bar to you and only the arms should move. The forearms should do no other work other than hold the bar.
- After a second on the contracted position, while breathing in, slowly bring the bar back to the starting position when your arms are fully extended and the lats are fully stretched.
- Repeat this motion for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
Benefits
- Builds strength and control through the back region.
- Trains multiple joints at once, which can make your sessions more efficient.
- Gives you a repeatable way to track progress inside Logbook over time.
Common mistakes
- Using more weight or speed than you can control cleanly.
- Letting momentum do the work instead of controlling the full rep.
- Changing your body position between reps instead of keeping the movement repeatable.
Related workouts
Workout templates that use this exercise.
If you want to see this movement inside a more complete training session, start here.
3-Day Full Body Split
A three-day split that spreads total weekly work across three full-body sessions.
View workout4-Day Upper Lower Split
A simple four-day split that gives each half of the body two quality sessions each week.
View workout5-Day Bodybuilding Split
A traditional five-day bodybuilding split for lifters who enjoy focusing on one or two regions per session.
View workoutBack and Biceps Workout
A straightforward back and biceps workout with vertical pulls, rows, and direct arm work.
View workoutRelated exercises
More exercises in the same lane.
Use these when you want a similar movement pattern, a different setup, or more exercise options for the same target area.
Close-Grip Front Lat Pulldown
Close-Grip Front Lat Pulldown is a beginner strength that mainly trains your back using cable.
View exerciseKneeling High Pulley Row
Kneeling High Pulley Row is a beginner strength that mainly trains your back using cable.
View exerciseKneeling Single-Arm High Pulley Row
Kneeling Single-Arm High Pulley Row is a beginner strength that mainly trains your back using cable.
View exerciseOne Arm Lat Pulldown
One Arm Lat Pulldown is a beginner strength that mainly trains your back using cable.
View exerciseFAQ
Common questions about Underhand Cable Pulldowns.
Use these answers as a practical starting point, then adjust based on your setup, comfort, and goals.
What muscles does Underhand Cable Pulldowns work?
Underhand Cable Pulldowns mainly works the back. It can also involve arms, shoulders depending on your setup and range of motion.
Is Underhand Cable Pulldowns beginner-friendly?
Yes. This exercise is listed as beginner-friendly, which usually means the setup and learning curve are more manageable.
What equipment do I need for Underhand Cable Pulldowns?
You will usually need Cable for this variation.
How should I progress Underhand Cable Pulldowns?
Start by making the reps smoother and more repeatable. Once the whole set looks controlled, add a small amount of load or one extra rep at a time.
Track this exercise for free in Logbook.
Once the movement is in your plan, use Logbook to record sets, reps, load, and progress without guessing what happened last week.
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