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  7. Cable Standing Lat Pushdown Rope Equipment

Exercise guide

Cable Standing Lat Pushdown Rope Equipment

  • Intermediate
  • Compound
  • Rep-based
  • Back
  • Shoulders
  • Upper arms
  • Waist

This isolation movement targets the latissimus dorsi through a full range of shoulder extension, using the rope attachment to allow for a deeper contraction at the bottom of the rep.

Reviewed by the Crucible team · Updated June 2026

Watch the Cable Standing Lat Pushdown Rope Equipment demonstrationGuided video and your full workout live in the Crucible app.

Muscles worked

Primary

  • Lats
  • Triceps

Secondary

  • Abs
  • Obliques

Equipment

  • Cable
  • Rope

Setup

  1. Attach a rope to the high pulley of a cable station.
  2. Grip the ends of the rope with a neutral grip (palms facing each other) and step back 2-3 feet.
  3. Hinge slightly at the hips and soften your knees, keeping your chest up and arms extended in front of you.
  4. Position your feet shoulder-width apart for a stable base.

How to do it

  1. Exhale and pull the rope down toward your thighs in a wide arc, keeping a slight, fixed bend in your elbows.
  2. As the rope reaches your hips, pull the ends of the rope apart toward your sides to maximize the contraction in your lats.
  3. Inhale and slowly reverse the movement, allowing the cable to pull your arms back up to the starting position over a 3-second count.
  4. Stop the upward phase when your arms are roughly parallel to your torso to maintain constant tension.

Form checklist

  • Keep your elbows locked at a consistent slight angle; do not turn this into a tricep pushdown.
  • Maintain a 'proud chest' and keep your shoulders depressed (down away from ears) throughout.
  • Avoid using momentum or swinging your torso to move the weight.
  • Keep your core braced to prevent your lower back from arching excessively.

Pro tips

  • Focus on 'pulling with your elbows' rather than your hands to better isolate the lats and minimize forearm involvement.
  • At the bottom of the movement, imagine trying to tuck your shoulder blades into your back pockets for peak muscle recruitment.

Make it harder

  • Incorporate a 2-second pause at the bottom of the movement with a hard squeeze.
  • Perform the eccentric (upward) phase even slower, taking 4-5 seconds to return to the start.

Frequently asked

What muscles does the cable standing lat pushdown rope equipment work?
The cable standing lat pushdown rope equipment primarily targets the lats and triceps, and also works the abs and obliques as secondary muscles.
What equipment do you need for the cable standing lat pushdown rope equipment?
The cable standing lat pushdown rope equipment uses cable and rope.
Is the cable standing lat pushdown rope equipment good for beginners?
The cable standing lat pushdown rope equipment is rated intermediate. Build a base with simpler variations first, then progress to it with light load and strict form.

Related exercises

  • Bodyweight Front SlamIntermediate · lats, pectorals, and triceps
  • Bodyweight Muscle-UpAdvanced · biceps, lats, and triceps
  • Kneeling Elbow MobilisationBeginner · abs, lats, obliques, and triceps
  • Resistance Band Overhead HitIntermediate · deltoids, lats, and triceps

Train this with a plan, not guesswork

Crucible builds the cable standing lat pushdown rope equipment into a precise program around your body, equipment, location, and time.

Download on the App Store