Core · Cable
Up Down Cable Twist
How to do the up down cable twist, the muscles it works, and the mistakes to avoid. Pulled straight from the Kovo app's exercise library.
- Equipment
- Cable
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Logged as
- Weighted reps
- Movement
- Rotation
- Mechanic
- Isolation
How to do it
Set a cable to a low position and stand sideways to the stack, gripping the handle with both hands near your hip. Brace your core and pull the handle diagonally up and across your body toward the opposite shoulder, rotating through your torso. Reverse the path with control back to your hip, then finish your reps and switch sides.
- 1Obliques driving the rotation as the handle travels up and across
- 2Core staying braced while your hips stay square
- 3A controlled return on the diagonal back to your hip
Common mistakes
- Don't yank with your arms; let your trunk do the rotating
- Avoid letting your hips swing or twist with the weight
- Don't rush; keep the up and down path smooth
Muscles worked
The up down cable twist mainly works the obliques and lower abs, with the upper abs and glutes assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- Lower AbsPrimary
- Upper AbsSupport
- GlutesSupport
- ForearmsMinor
- LatsMinor
- Lower BackMinor
- QuadsMinor
- HamstringsMinor
- Front DeltsMinor
- Side DeltsMinor
- Hip FlexorsMinor
Kovo programs the up down cable twist 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 abs & core exercises
- How to do the ab wheel rollout
- How to do the ankle tap plank
- How to do the ankle taps
- How to do the resistance band dead bugs
- How to do the resistance band pallof press
- How to do the rollout
Last reviewed June 2026.