Cable Woodchop

Also known as: Cable Chop, Cable Machine Chop, Cable Woodchopper High-to-Low, Cable Machine Woodchopper High-to-Low, High to Low Cable Chop, Cable Chop High to Low, Cable Machine Woodchop, High-to-Low Cable Woodchop, Wood Chopper, High-to-Low Woodchop, Wood Chop, Cable Woodchopper

Body region

Muscles

Main

Helps

Holds

Equipment

Cable Station

Technique

Set a cable pulley at the highest setting with a single handle and stand sideways to the stack, feet shoulder-width apart.
Grip the handle with both hands and start with arms extended up and across the body toward the pulley.
Pull the handle diagonally down and across your body toward the opposite knee, rotating the trunk and pivoting on the foot nearest the stack.
Return slowly to the start, then switch sides after your set.

Cues

Rotate from the trunk with the arms acting as long levers.
Keep the hips and knees soft.

Common mistakes

Pulling hard with the arms and not rotating.
Bending the back deeply at the bottom.
Using a weight so heavy the stack crashes on the return.

Variations

Cable Woodchop Half-Kneeling