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Cable Floor Seated Wide-Grip Row

A wide-grip cable row done seated on the floor in front of a low pulley, using a stable base to isolate the upper back without a bench.

BackCableHorizontal pull
GoLightWeight mediacable-floor-seated-wide-grip-row

Demonstration coming soon

Primary

RhomboidsLatissimus dorsi

Secondary

Middle trapeziusRear deltoidsBicepsSpinal erectors

Equipment

Cable

Pattern

Horizontal pull

Setup

  1. 01Attach a wide bar to a low pulley and sit on the floor facing the stack.
  2. 02Extend the legs with a soft knee bend and brace the feet against the machine frame.
  3. 03Grip the bar wider than shoulder width with an overhand grip.
  4. 04Sit tall with the torso vertical and arms extended.

Execution

  1. 01Pull the bar to the lower chest by driving the elbows wide and back.
  2. 02Keep the torso upright and still through the pull.
  3. 03Squeeze the shoulder blades together at the chest for a beat.
  4. 04Let the bar travel back under control to a full stretch.

Checkpoints

  • -Torso stays vertical instead of swinging back and forth.
  • -Elbows track wide, roughly level with the bar.
  • -Lower back holds a neutral position while sitting on the floor.
  • -Full arm extension and scapular stretch at the start of each rep.

Common mistakes

  • -Rounding the lower back when sitting without a bench.
  • -Leaning back to move the stack instead of pulling with the back.
  • -Pulling the bar to the stomach with dropped elbows.
  • -Bouncing reps off the stack at the stretch position.

Programming notes

  • -Use 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps as a horizontal pull when the seated row station is taken.
  • -Sit on a small mat or plate if hamstring tightness rounds the lower back.
  • -Slow eccentrics compensate for the lighter loads this floor position allows.

Related exercises

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