Arms · Cable
Cable Reverse Grip Pushdown
How to do the cable reverse grip pushdown, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Cable
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Extension
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Attach a straight bar to a high cable pulley and grip it with palms facing up, hands shoulder width. Keep your elbows pinned to your sides and push the bar down until your arms are fully straight, then return with control to the starting position.
- 1Triceps driving the bar down to full lockout
- 2Elbows staying pinned tight to your sides
- 3A controlled stretch in the triceps as the bar rises
Common mistakes
- Letting your elbows flare out or drift forward
- Using your shoulders or leaning your body to push the weight
- Cutting the lockout short at the bottom
Muscles worked
The cable reverse grip pushdown mainly works the triceps, with the forearms assisting.
- TricepsPrimary
- ForearmsSupport
- Upper AbsMinor
Kovo programs the cable reverse grip pushdown for you and tracks it every session.
We build your whole program, drop the right lifts into each workout, and adjust your weights as you get stronger. Free on iOS and Android.
More triceps exercises
- How to do the bent-over tricep extension
- How to do the crossbody tricep extension
- How to do the cable katana tricep extension
- How to do the cable single arm tricep extension
- How to do the kickback
- How to do the lying tricep extension
Last reviewed June 2026.