Best Back Workouts With Cable Machines To Build Strength

About

Cables are versatile fitness equipment offering unique benefits, such as adjustable resistance direction and customizable handles.

They provide the precise adaptability needed to target specific muscles effectively.

Strength-building workouts aim to increase maximum lifting capacity, integrating compound and isolation exercises with higher weights and lower repetitions.

These programs primarily engage the back, located between the shoulders on the upper torso, responsible for pulling and shoulder movements and often targeted through rows, pull-ups, and lat pull-downs.

Utilizing cable pulls in your regimen can be an excellent way to activate these muscles efficiently and achieve your training goals.

The 12 Best Back Exercises with Cable Machines to Build Strength

Ranked By

Ranked based on Fitbod's internal data set of the most effective exercises. Learn More

  • 1. Cable Row

    SETS LOGGED
    6,108,322
    Back Strength
    98 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Row Cable
    Row Cable

    The Cable Row is an exercise that strengthens your back, shoulders, and biceps. It uses a cable machine for proper positioning and resistance control, helping you build muscle and strength in your upper body.

    How to do it

    The Cable Row is an exercise that strengthens your back, shoulders, and biceps. It uses a cable machine for proper positioning and resistance control, helping you build muscle and strength in your upper body.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    55lbs
    2
    8reps
    55lbs
    3
    8reps
    55lbs
  • 2. Lat Pulldown

    SETS LOGGED
    8,113,246
    Back Strength
    100 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Lat Pulldown Cable
    Lat Pulldown Cable

    The Lat Pulldown is a great exercise for strengthening your back, shoulders, and biceps. It's similar to a Pull Up but is more stable, making it easier for beginners to control the movement and adjust the resistance.

    How to do it

    The Lat Pulldown is a great exercise for strengthening your back, shoulders, and biceps. It's similar to a Pull Up but is more stable, making it easier for beginners to control the movement and adjust the resistance.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    70lbs
    2
    8reps
    70lbs
    3
    8reps
    70lbs
  • 3. Shotgun Row

    SETS LOGGED
    1,315,194
    Back Strength
    92 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable

    Shotgun Row is a back exercise that uses a cable machine. It targets each side separately, helping to improve strength balance and add variety to your routine.

    How to do it

    Shotgun Row is a back exercise that uses a cable machine. It targets each side separately, helping to improve strength balance and add variety to your routine.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    30lbs
    2
    8reps
    30lbs
    3
    8reps
    30lbs
  • 4. V-Bar Pulldown

    SETS LOGGED
    1,241,504
    Back Strength
    80 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Lat Pulldown Cable
    Lat Pulldown Cable

    The V-Bar Pulldown is an effective exercise for strengthening your upper back, focusing on the lats and middle back, while also engaging the biceps. Using a V-Bar with a neutral grip helps protect your shoulders and allows for a more comfortable movement.

    How to do it

    The V-Bar Pulldown is an effective exercise for strengthening your upper back, focusing on the lats and middle back, while also engaging the biceps. Using a V-Bar with a neutral grip helps protect your shoulders and allows for a more comfortable movement.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    70lbs
    2
    8reps
    70lbs
    3
    8reps
    70lbs
  • 5. Wide Grip Lat Pulldown

    SETS LOGGED
    1,293,747
    Back Strength
    86 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Lat Pulldown Cable
    Lat Pulldown Cable

    The Wide Grip Lat Pulldown strengthens the upper back, lats, and biceps. By using a wider grip, this exercise helps improve back width and posture, making it great for building strength and enhancing your physique.

    How to do it

    The Wide Grip Lat Pulldown strengthens the upper back, lats, and biceps. By using a wider grip, this exercise helps improve back width and posture, making it great for building strength and enhancing your physique.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    70lbs
    2
    8reps
    70lbs
    3
    8reps
    70lbs
  • 6. Reverse Grip Pull Down

    SETS LOGGED
    881,146
    Back Strength
    86 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Lat Pulldown Cable
    Lat Pulldown Cable

    The Reverse Grip Pull Down is a back exercise that mainly works the lower lats and biceps. Using an underhand grip is gentler on your wrists and elbows, making it great for building strength and thickness in your back.

    How to do it

    The Reverse Grip Pull Down is a back exercise that mainly works the lower lats and biceps. Using an underhand grip is gentler on your wrists and elbows, making it great for building strength and thickness in your back.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    65lbs
    2
    8reps
    65lbs
    3
    8reps
    65lbs
  • 7. 1/2 Kneeling Shotgun Row

    SETS LOGGED
    80,616
    Back Strength
    70 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable

    The 1/2 Kneeling Shotgun Row is a great exercise for strengthening your back, shoulders, and core. It is done in a half-kneeling position using a cable machine, helping to improve muscle balance and posture while stabilizing your body.

    How to do it

    The 1/2 Kneeling Shotgun Row is a great exercise for strengthening your back, shoulders, and core. It is done in a half-kneeling position using a cable machine, helping to improve muscle balance and posture while stabilizing your body.

  • 8. Single Arm Lat Pulldown

    SETS LOGGED
    813,558
    Back Strength
    81 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Lat Pulldown Cable
    Lat Pulldown Cable

    The Single Arm Lat Pulldown is an exercise that targets your back muscles while also helping with core stability. By using one arm at a time, it allows for better stretching and muscle balance in your back.

    How to do it

    The Single Arm Lat Pulldown is an exercise that targets your back muscles while also helping with core stability. By using one arm at a time, it allows for better stretching and muscle balance in your back.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 9. Straight-Arm Pulldown

    SETS LOGGED
    1,139,330
    Back Strength
    72 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Lat Pulldown Cable
    Lat Pulldown Cable

    The Straight-Arm Pulldown is a back-targeting exercise. It helps you focus on your back muscles without using your biceps, and you can adjust your grip to target different areas of your back.

    How to do it

    The Straight-Arm Pulldown is a back-targeting exercise. It helps you focus on your back muscles without using your biceps, and you can adjust your grip to target different areas of your back.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs
  • 10. Cable Crossover Lat Pulldown

    SETS LOGGED
    120,014
    Back Strength
    65 mScore
    Back
    Photo of Crossover Cable
    Crossover Cable

    The Cable Crossover Lat Pulldown is a back exercise that works the lat muscles using cables for a better range of motion. It helps build a wider and stronger back while improving posture.

    How to do it

    The Cable Crossover Lat Pulldown is a back exercise that works the lat muscles using cables for a better range of motion. It helps build a wider and stronger back while improving posture.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 11. Cable Shrugs

    SETS LOGGED
    234,030
    Trapezius Strength
    98 mScore
    Trapezius
    Photo of Crossover Cable
    Crossover Cable

    Cable shrugs are an exercise that targets your trapezius muscles using a cable machine. This variation keeps constant tension on your muscles, making it effective for building strength in your traps.

    How to do it

    Cable shrugs are an exercise that targets your trapezius muscles using a cable machine. This variation keeps constant tension on your muscles, making it effective for building strength in your traps.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    60lbs
    2
    8reps
    60lbs
    3
    8reps
    60lbs
  • 12. Cable Upright Row

    SETS LOGGED
    535,737
    Trapezius Strength
    87 mScore
    Trapezius
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable

    The Cable Upright Row is a resistance exercise that strengthens your shoulders and upper back. Using a cable allows for better control and constant tension, making it effective for building muscle and strength.

    How to do it

    The Cable Upright Row is a resistance exercise that strengthens your shoulders and upper back. Using a cable allows for better control and constant tension, making it effective for building muscle and strength.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs

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