Front Cable Raise
How to do the Front Cable Raise
- 1
Select the weight on a low pulley machine and grasp the single hand cable attachment that is attached to the low pulley with your left hand.
- 2
Face away from the pulley and put your arm straight down with the hand cable attachment in front of your thighs at arms' length with the palms of the hand facing your thighs. This will be your starting position.
- 3
While maintaining the torso stationary (no swinging), lift the left arm to the front with a slight bend on the elbow and the palms of the hand always faces down. Continue to go up until you arm is slightly above parallel to the floor. Exhale as you execute this portion of the movement and pause for a second at the top.
- 4
Now as you inhale lower the arm back down slowly to the starting position.
- 5
Once all of the recommended amount of repetitions have been performed for this arm, switch arms and perform the exercise with the right one.
How to program the Front Cable Raise
Sets and reps
As an isolation movement, the Front Cable Raise is best trained with moderate loads and higher reps: 2–4 sets of 10–15 reps with 60–90 seconds of rest. Chasing heavy weight on isolation work usually degrades form before it builds muscle — prioritize a full range of motion and a controlled negative. Program it after your compound lifts.
Progression
The Front Cable Raise is beginner-friendly. Start with a load (or rep count) you can complete with clean form on every set, then add a small amount of weight or 1–2 reps each week. When you hit the top of your rep range on all sets, increase the load and drop back to the bottom of the range — simple double progression.
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Frequently asked questions
What muscles does the Front Cable Raise work?
The Front Cable Raise primarily targets the Shoulders.
What equipment do I need for the Front Cable Raise?
You need Cable. Difficulty level: Beginner.
How many sets and reps of the Front Cable Raise should I do?
Do 2–4 sets of 10–15 reps with 60–90 seconds rest, focusing on a full range of motion and controlled tempo rather than maximum load.
