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Cable Underhand Pulldown
A lat pulldown taken with a supinated grip, keeping the elbows in front of the body to bias the lower lats and add biceps involvement.
BackCableVertical pull
GoLightWeight mediacable-underhand-pulldown
Demonstration coming soon
Primary
Latissimus dorsi
Secondary
BicepsRhomboidsLower trapezius
Equipment
Cable
Pattern
Vertical pull
Setup
- 01Attach a straight bar to the lat pulldown cable and set the thigh pad snug.
- 02Grip the bar underhand at about shoulder width.
- 03Sit with thighs locked under the pad and feet flat.
- 04Lean back slightly and lift the chest toward the bar.
Execution
- 01Pull the bar down to the upper chest, driving the elbows down and slightly back.
- 02Keep the elbows tracking in front of the torso with the underhand grip.
- 03Squeeze the lats at the bottom with the chest tall.
- 04Return the bar under control until the arms are long and the lats stretch.
Checkpoints
- -Wrists stay neutral, not curled back under the supinated grip.
- -Bar travels to the upper chest, not the belly.
- -Torso lean stays slight and constant.
- -Elbows finish close to the ribs, pointing down.
Common mistakes
- -Curling the bar down with the biceps instead of driving the elbows.
- -Swinging the torso back to heave heavier loads.
- -Cutting the top of the rep short and losing the stretch.
- -Gripping too wide, which strains the wrists in supination.
Programming notes
- -Use 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps for hypertrophy work.
- -A good chin-up substitute or regression at matched grip width.
- -Alternate cycles with the overhand pulldown to cover both elbow paths.
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