Legs · Cable
Cable Straight Leg Diagonal Kickback
How to do the cable straight leg diagonal kickback, 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 an ankle strap to a low cable and cuff your working leg. Face the machine and hinge slightly forward, holding the frame for balance. Keeping the leg straight, drive it back and out on a diagonal by squeezing your glute, then return under control. Finish your reps, then switch legs.
- 1Feel the glute squeeze drive the straight leg back and out on the
- 2diagonal
- 3Keep your hips square and your core tight against the cable pull
- 4Control the lift and the return; no swinging
Common mistakes
- Don't arch your lower back or twist your hips to gain range
- Avoid bending the knee; keep the leg long
- Don't let the cable yank the leg back; stay in control
Muscles worked
The cable straight leg diagonal kickback mainly works the glutes, with the hamstrings and lower back assisting.
- GlutesPrimary
- HamstringsSupport
- Lower BackSupport
- Lower AbsMinor
- ObliquesMinor
Kovo programs the cable straight leg diagonal kickback 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 glutes exercises
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- How to do the airdyne bike
- How to do the arc trainer
- How to do the assault bike
- How to do the medicine ball atlas stone lift
- How to do the b stance hip thrust
Last reviewed June 2026.