Back · Cable
Cable Underhand Pulldown
How to do the cable underhand pulldown, 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
- VerticalPull
- Mechanic
- Compound
How to do it
Attach a straight bar to a high pulley and grip it underhand, shoulder-width, with palms facing you. Sit and brace your thighs, then pull the bar to your upper chest by driving your elbows down and back. Control the bar back up to a full stretch overhead.
- 1Feel your lats pull your elbows down toward your ribs
- 2Squeeze your shoulder blades down and back at the bottom
- 3Keep your chest up and pull the bar to your upper chest
Common mistakes
- Do not lean back hard and turn it into a row
- Avoid curling with your biceps to finish the pull
- Do not let your shoulders shrug up as you reach overhead
Muscles worked
The cable underhand pulldown mainly works the lats and biceps, with the forearms, mid traps, lower traps, and rear delts assisting.
- LatsPrimary
- BicepsPrimary
- ForearmsSupport
- Mid TrapsSupport
- Lower TrapsSupport
- Rear DeltsSupport
- Upper AbsMinor
Kovo programs the cable underhand pulldown 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 back exercises
- How to do the archer pull-up
- How to do the resistance band assisted pull-up
- How to do the machine assisted pull-up
- How to do the back extension bench back extension
- How to do the machine back extension
- How to do the back lever
Last reviewed June 2026.