Full-Range Lat Pulldown

Either standing or seated on a high bench, grasp two stirrup cables that are attached to the high pulleys. Grab with the opposing hand so your arms are crisscrossed about you and your palms are facing forward. Keeping your chest up and maintaining a slight arch in your lower back, pull the handles down as if you were doing a regular pulldown. The range of motion will be more of an arc. During the movement, rotate your hands so that in the bottom position your palms face each other rather than forward. Return slowly to the starting position and repeat.

Full-Range Lat Pulldown primarily trains the back, with the biceps and shoulders contributing. The exact demand depends on your setup, range, and chosen load.

Set a secure grip and keep the chosen torso position repeatable. Move the elbows through the intended pull without a large torso swing. Return under control rather than dropping the weight or losing shoulder control.

Related options include Close-Grip Front Lat Pulldown, Lat Pulldown, Seated Cable Rows. These can have different equipment, range, and movement demands. Open the guides below to compare the setups before choosing a replacement.