Core · Cable
Cable Twisting Pull
How to do the cable twisting pull, 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
- Compound
How to do it
Set a cable at chest height and grip the handle with both hands, standing side-on with arms extended. Pull the handle across and toward your body while rotating your torso away from the machine, driving the movement through your core and back. Control the return as the cable rotates you back.
- 1Drive the rotation from your obliques and mid-back, not just your arms
- 2Pull the handle across your body as your torso turns
- 3Keep your hips facing forward so the rotation stays in your trunk
Common mistakes
- Do not bend or yank with your arms to move the weight
- Avoid letting your lower back round as you twist
- Do not rush; control the cable back to the start
Muscles worked
The cable twisting pull mainly works the obliques, with the lats, upper abs, lower abs, lower back, mid traps, and rear delts assisting.
- ObliquesPrimary
- LatsSupport
- Upper AbsSupport
- Lower AbsSupport
- Lower BackSupport
- Mid TrapsSupport
- Rear DeltsSupport
- BicepsMinor
- ForearmsMinor
- GlutesMinor
Kovo programs the cable twisting pull 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.