Best Upper Body Workouts With Cable Machines To Build Muscle Mass

About

Cable machines provide a unique and versatile approach to targeted resistance training.

They enable precise adjustments to movement angles and handle types, facilitating specific muscle engagement.

Exercises aimed at building muscle mass often incorporate both compound and isolation movements, utilizing moderate weights and higher repetitions to optimize growth.

By focusing on the upper body, this workout includes muscle groups such as the chest, back, shoulders, and arms.

This balanced approach supports both overall strength development and physique enhancement.

Individuals should tailor resistance levels to their capabilities for effective results.

The 15 Best Upper Body Exercises with Cable Machines to Build Muscle Mass

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. Cable Rope Tricep Extension

    SETS LOGGED
    5,575,234
    Triceps Strength
    100 mScore
    Triceps
    Photo of Rope Cable
    Rope Cable

    The Cable Rope Tricep Extension is a great exercise to specifically strengthen your triceps. Using a cable machine allows for better control and consistent tension, making it ideal for adjusting weights easily and performing high-repetition sets.

    How to do it

    The Cable Rope Tricep Extension is a great exercise to specifically strengthen your triceps. Using a cable machine allows for better control and consistent tension, making it ideal for adjusting weights easily and performing high-repetition sets.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 4. 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
    22.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    22.5lbs
  • 5. Cable Lateral Raise

    SETS LOGGED
    1,978,112
    Shoulders Strength
    97 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable

    The Cable Lateral Raise is a shoulder exercise that targets the middle deltoid muscle. Using a cable machine allows for better control and can help identify strength differences between your left and right sides.

    How to do it

    The Cable Lateral Raise is a shoulder exercise that targets the middle deltoid muscle. Using a cable machine allows for better control and can help identify strength differences between your left and right sides.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    12.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    12.5lbs
  • 6. Cable Face Pull

    SETS LOGGED
    2,132,611
    Shoulders Strength
    96 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable

    The Cable Face Pull is an exercise that strengthens your shoulder muscles, especially the rear deltoids. It uses a cable machine, allowing you to easily control the resistance by adjusting the pulley height or your distance from the machine.

    How to do it

    The Cable Face Pull is an exercise that strengthens your shoulder muscles, especially the rear deltoids. It uses a cable machine, allowing you to easily control the resistance by adjusting the pulley height or your distance from the machine.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 7. 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
  • 8. 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
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 9. Cable Crunch

    SETS LOGGED
    1,462,723
    Abs Strength
    91 mScore
    Abs
    Photo of Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Hi-Lo Pulley Cable
    Photo of Rope Cable
    Rope Cable

    Cable Crunch is an exercise that strengthens your core using a cable machine instead of just your body weight. You perform it while kneeling, allowing for greater control over the resistance and direction of the movement.

    How to do it

    Cable Crunch is an exercise that strengthens your core using a cable machine instead of just your body weight. You perform it while kneeling, allowing for greater control over the resistance and direction of the movement.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    65lbs
    2
    8reps
    65lbs
    3
    8reps
    65lbs
  • 10. 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
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 11. Cable Rear Delt Fly

    SETS LOGGED
    645,918
    Shoulders Strength
    82 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Crossover Cable
    Crossover Cable

    The Cable Rear Delt Fly targets the rear shoulders to improve your shoulder balance and posture. Using a cable machine allows for better muscle activation with constant tension. This exercise also strengthens the upper back and helps correct shoulder imbalances.

    How to do it

    The Cable Rear Delt Fly targets the rear shoulders to improve your shoulder balance and posture. Using a cable machine allows for better muscle activation with constant tension. This exercise also strengthens the upper back and helps correct shoulder imbalances.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    20lbs
    2
    8reps
    20lbs
    3
    8reps
    20lbs
  • 12. Cable Shoulder Press

    SETS LOGGED
    164,564
    Shoulders Strength
    77 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Crossover Cable
    Crossover Cable

    The Cable Shoulder Press is an exercise that strengthens your shoulder muscles, especially the front and middle parts. Using cables keeps tension on the muscles, improving stability and control during the movement.

    How to do it

    The Cable Shoulder Press is an exercise that strengthens your shoulder muscles, especially the front and middle parts. Using cables keeps tension on the muscles, improving stability and control during the movement.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    35lbs
    2
    8reps
    35lbs
    3
    8reps
    35lbs
  • 13. Freemotion Shoulder Press

    SETS LOGGED
    95,615
    Shoulders Strength
    82 mScore
    Shoulders
    Photo of Freemotion Machine (all forms)
    Freemotion Machine (all forms)

    The Freemotion Shoulder Press is a beginner-friendly exercise that targets your shoulder muscles. Using a Freemotion machine helps you maintain stability, making it easier to control your movements and focus on your form.

    How to do it

    The Freemotion Shoulder Press is a beginner-friendly exercise that targets your shoulder muscles. Using a Freemotion machine helps you maintain stability, making it easier to control your movements and focus on your form.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    40lbs
    2
    8reps
    40lbs
    3
    8reps
    40lbs
  • 14. 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
    45lbs
    2
    8reps
    45lbs
    3
    8reps
    45lbs
  • 15. Low Cable Chest Fly

    SETS LOGGED
    947,897
    Chest Strength
    67 mScore
    Chest
    Photo of Crossover Cable
    Crossover Cable

    The Low Cable Chest Fly is a strength exercise that focuses on building the lower chest muscles. Using cables at a low height helps create constant resistance and better control during the movement.

    How to do it

    The Low Cable Chest Fly is a strength exercise that focuses on building the lower chest muscles. Using cables at a low height helps create constant resistance and better control during the movement.

    Sets, Reps, Weight
    1
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    2
    8reps
    22.5lbs
    3
    8reps
    22.5lbs

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Best Upper Body Workouts With Cable Machines To Build Muscle Mass | Fitbod Workout Generator