Front Cable Raise

Front Cable Raise is a beginner-level isolation in the strength category that primarily works the shoulders. It is performed with cable.

How to do it

1. 1Select 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. 2Face 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. 3While 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. 4Now as you inhale lower the arm back down slowly to the starting position.
5. 5Once all of the recommended amount of repetitions have been performed for this arm, switch arms and perform the exercise with the right one.

Muscles worked

Primary muscles in filled badges, secondary in grey. Tap for more exercises per muscle.

Tips and common mistakes

• •Focus on the muscle contraction and control the eccentric (lowering) phase.
• •Add load only once you complete all reps with good form — progressive overload.
• •Press through the full range and avoid snapping the joints into lockout.
• •Prioritize full range of motion over heavy weight with partial reps.

Sets and reps

For hypertrophy: 3–4 sets × 8–12 reps with 1–2 reps in reserve (RPE 7–9) and 1–2 minutes rest. For strength: 3–5 × 4–6 with longer rest.