Cable tricep kickback
Hinge at the hips, upper arm pinned to your side, elbow at 90°.
Muscles
- Primary
- triceps
- Supporting
- None listed
Mechanics
- Pattern
- elbow extension
- Equipment
- cable
- Geometry
- Variable Range
- Target feel
- Tricep fully shortens at lockout — squeeze hard before returning.
- Progression
- Add a 2-second squeeze at lockout before increasing load.
- Regression
- Use a band if cable pulls shoulder out of position.
Watch for
- Moving the upper arm
- Swinging for momentum
Equipment context
Cable tension stays constant through the range, so the target muscle stays loaded at the bottom of each rep.
Substitutions
- Overhead cable tricep extension
- Rope pushdown
- Band pushdown
Related exercises
Progression ladder
- Beginner / regression: Use a band if cable pulls shoulder out of position.
- Standard: Cable tricep kickback
- Advanced / progression: Add a 2-second squeeze at lockout before increasing load.
Atlas metrics
- Movement pattern
- elbow extension
- Primary target
- triceps
- Supporting muscles
- None listed
- Equipment
- cable
- Joint geometry
- Variable Range
- Alternatives
- 3 substitutions
Evidence & limits
Last reviewed against peer-reviewed biomechanics references. Exercise descriptions are framed as training guidance, not medical advice.
Source: ExRx.net Exercise & Muscle Directory
Eccentryx is fitness software. It is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, injury, or medical condition. Consult a licensed physician before beginning any exercise program.
Try these tools
FAQ
- How do I set up Cable tricep kickback?
- Hinge at the hips, upper arm pinned to your side, elbow at 90°.
- What should I feel during Cable tricep kickback?
- Tricep fully shortens at lockout — squeeze hard before returning.
- What are common mistakes with Cable tricep kickback?
- Moving the upper arm; Swinging for momentum
- How do I progress Cable tricep kickback?
- Add a 2-second squeeze at lockout before increasing load.
- What can I do instead of Cable tricep kickback?
- Overhead cable tricep extension, Rope pushdown, Band pushdown
Asset in production
Verified form media not published yet
This indexed Atlas page keeps the exercise metadata live while the verified form asset is in production. No generated or placeholder exercise media is shown here.
- Movement family
- tricep kickback
- Force type
- push
- Graph edges
- 1360 Atlas movement links reviewed
- nearest visible Atlas substitute found in 1 movement graph hop
- movement graph path: Cable tricep kickback -> Rope tricep pushdown
- curated substitution in the Atlas
- same target muscle: triceps