Exercise library

Rear Delts · Cable

Face Pull

Difficulty

Beginner

Sets

3–4

Reps

6–12

Equipment

Cable

Target muscles

Primary Rear Delts

Secondary: Traps, Upper Back

Variations

  • · Wide-grip Face Pull
  • · Neutral-grip Face Pull
  • · Tempo Face Pull

Proper form

  1. 01 Set a strong hip hinge or supported position before starting.
  2. 02 Pull with the elbows, driving them toward the hips.
  3. 03 Squeeze the shoulder blades together at the top.
  4. 04 Control the eccentric — no jerk, no dropping.

Common mistakes

  • × Using excessive body English to move the weight.
  • × Rounding the upper back at the top of the pull.
  • × Cutting range of motion at the fully stretched position.

Tips

  • Match total row volume to bench-press volume for balanced shoulders.
  • Use straps if grip fails before the target muscles.
  • Prioritize contraction quality over load.

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