Exercise guide
Cable Incline Pushdown
The Cable Incline Pushdown is a straight-arm lat exercise performed while lying on an incline bench facing away from a high pulley. The bar travels from an overhead position toward the thighs. The lats perform the main movement while the bench supports the torso.
Training context
Before adding the Cable Incline Pushdown
This exercise can be used as focused lat work after rows or pull-ups. The incline support reduces the need to stabilize the torso compared with a standing straight-arm pushdown.
Cable height and bench position should allow the bar to travel overhead without contacting the machine or pulling the shoulders into an uncomfortable range.
Technique overview
Keep the elbows nearly fixed
Lie securely on the incline bench and begin with the bar overhead. Keep a slight, consistent bend in the elbows as you pull the bar through an arc toward the thighs. Pause briefly, then return slowly overhead. Avoid turning the movement into a triceps extension by repeatedly bending and straightening the elbows.
Treat this as an overview and use a range, pace, and setup you can control.