Best Beginner Chest And Back Workouts With Cable Machines

About

Cables are an exceptionally versatile workout tool, enabling the user to modify resistance angles and attach various handles for diverse exercises.

Beginners will find these exercises suitable as they prioritize safety while allowing for muscle engagement and development.

The chest muscles, or pectoral group, are targeted through pressing and adduction movements, while the back muscles are activated using pulling and shoulder motions.

Combining chest and back exercises provides a balanced approach to pushing and pulling mechanics, effectively strengthening opposing muscle groups.

Incorporating cable machine workouts, even with reduced weights for beginners, ensures a challenging yet attainable fitness practice.

The 13 Best Beginner Chest and Back Exercises with Cable Machines

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
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs
  • 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
    55lbs
    2
    8reps
    55lbs
    3
    8reps
    55lbs
  • 3. Cable Crossover Fly

    SETS LOGGED
    2,687,316
    Chest Strength
    95 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Crossover Cable
    Crossover Cable

    The Cable Crossover Fly is a chest exercise that uses cables to maintain tension and control. This exercise helps isolate different parts of the chest for a focused workout.

    How to do it

    The Cable Crossover Fly is a chest exercise that uses cables to maintain tension and control. This exercise helps isolate different parts of the chest for a focused workout.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 4. Single Arm Cable Press

    SETS LOGGED
    298,585
    Chest Strength
    85 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable

    The Single Arm Cable Press is a great exercise for strengthening your chest, shoulders, and triceps. It helps identify and fix strength differences between your arms while mimicking the motion of throwing a punch, making it useful for combat sports.

    How to do it

    The Single Arm Cable Press is a great exercise for strengthening your chest, shoulders, and triceps. It helps identify and fix strength differences between your arms while mimicking the motion of throwing a punch, making it useful for combat sports.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    17.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    17.5lbs
  • 5. Cable Chest Press

    SETS LOGGED
    435,174
    Chest Strength
    76 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Crossover Cable
    Crossover Cable
    Photo of Freemotion Machine (all forms)
    Freemotion Machine (all forms)

    The Cable Chest Press is a great exercise for working your chest, shoulders, and triceps. Using cable machines keeps tension on your muscles and lets you adjust the direction of the resistance.

    How to do it

    The Cable Chest Press is a great exercise for working your chest, shoulders, and triceps. Using cable machines keeps tension on your muscles and lets you adjust the direction of the resistance.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 6. Incline Cable Chest Press

    SETS LOGGED
    108,055
    Chest Strength
    48 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Freemotion Machine (all forms)
    Freemotion Machine (all forms)

    The Incline Cable Chest Press strengthens the upper chest muscles by using cables at an incline. This exercise helps improve muscle growth and provides added safety for your joints while also engaging your core.

    How to do it

    The Incline Cable Chest Press strengthens the upper chest muscles by using cables at an incline. This exercise helps improve muscle growth and provides added safety for your joints while also engaging your core.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 7. 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
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs
  • 8. Mid Cable Crossover Fly

    SETS LOGGED
    245,447
    Chest Strength
    28 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Crossover Cable
    Crossover Cable

    The Mid Cable Crossover Fly targets the mid-chest area to help create a balanced chest shape. Using a cable machine, this exercise keeps constant tension on the chest muscles for better development.

    How to do it

    The Mid Cable Crossover Fly targets the mid-chest area to help create a balanced chest shape. Using a cable machine, this exercise keeps constant tension on the chest muscles for better development.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 9. Single Arm Low Cable Crossover Fly

    SETS LOGGED
    148,146
    Chest Strength
    49 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Crossover Cable
    Crossover Cable

    The Single Arm Low Cable Crossover Fly is a chest exercise targeting the lower pectoral muscles. It helps improve muscle balance and definition through a focused stretch and contraction of each side individually.

    How to do it

    The Single Arm Low Cable Crossover Fly is a chest exercise targeting the lower pectoral muscles. It helps improve muscle balance and definition through a focused stretch and contraction of each side individually.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    12.5lbs
  • 10. 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.

  • 11. 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
    30lbs
    2
    8reps
    30lbs
    3
    8reps
    30lbs
  • 12. 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
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 13. Single Arm Cable Crossover

    SETS LOGGED
    209,250
    Chest Strength
    74 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable

    The Single Arm Cable Crossover is a chest exercise that helps improve muscle balance and symmetry. It also engages your core for better stability as you work each side independently.

    How to do it

    The Single Arm Cable Crossover is a chest exercise that helps improve muscle balance and symmetry. It also engages your core for better stability as you work each side independently.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs

Alternative Workouts

Alternative Beginner Chest and Back Workouts

Alternative Beginner Workouts with Cable Machines

Alternative Chest and Back Workouts with Cable Machines