Cable Kickback

Muscles Worked

How to Perform

1. 1

   Set the pulley to the appropriate height for the exercise — low for curls, high for tricep pushdowns, mid for crossovers.

2. 2

   Grip the handle or attachment firmly. Step into a stable stance with a slight stagger for balance.

3. 3

   Perform the movement by contracting only the target muscle. Cables provide constant tension, so move slowly and deliberately.

4. 4

   Control the return to the starting position. The cable should never go slack during the set.

Common Mistakes

• Using too much weight and compensating with other muscle groups. Isolation demands strict form over ego loads.

• Rushing through reps without controlling the eccentric. The lowering phase should be 2-3 seconds minimum.

• Cutting the range of motion short. Full range builds more muscle and healthier joints.

Pro Tips

• Use the mind-muscle connection: before each rep, mentally focus on the target muscle and visualize it contracting. Research shows this genuinely increases muscle activation.

• Slow down the eccentric to 3 seconds minimum. Isolation exercises build the most muscle when you maximize time under tension.

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