Straight-Arm Pulldown primarily works the lats and core. It is categorized as a pull movement and uses Cable machine.
- Primary muscles
- lats and core
- Equipment
- Cable machine
- Movement pattern
- pull
- Catalog difficulty
- 2 of 5
How to do Straight-Arm Pulldown
- Soft elbows locked, hinge slightly at hips
- Sweep bar down in an arc toward thighs
- Feel lats — avoid turning it into a triceps pressdown
Common mistakes
- Using too much weight — range shrinks and shoulders take over
Muscles worked
The primary catalog target is lats, with core also involved. Exercise feel varies with setup, range of motion, and individual anatomy.
Related exercises and substitutions
A useful substitute should preserve the job this movement has in the session—not merely train a nearby body part. Explore the related Movviva guides below, then compare pattern, target muscles, available equipment, and difficulty.
Lat Pulldown · One-Arm Row · Chin-Up (or Assisted) · Barbell Bent-Over Row · Band-Assisted Pull-Up · Dumbbell Pullover
Put Straight-Arm Pulldown into a plan that adapts.
Movviva builds strength, mobility, and conditioning around your goal, schedule, equipment, and completed training—then gives you the next workout with guided targets and smart swaps.