Straight-Arm Lat Pulldown

Arms straight throughout: sweep the bar from overhead down to the thighs; the lats work without the biceps.

Straight-Arm Lat Pulldown, illustrated

How to do it

Setup

Standing at a high cable, wide bar at eye level, arms straight, slight hinge.

Steps

  1. Sweep the bar down in an arc to the thighs.
  2. Arms stay straight the whole way.
  3. Return up the same arc with tension.

Common mistakes

Elbows bending: it becomes a pushdown; long arms. Shoulders rolling forward: chest stays proud. Standing bolt upright: the slight hinge gives the lats their line.

Breathing

Exhale sweeping down, inhale returning.