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Exercise guide

Standing Cable Wood Chop

How to do the Standing Cable Wood Chop with correct form, the muscles it works, and where it fits a training plan you actually stick to.

CompoundCableBeginnerPull
Primary muscles

Abs

Secondary

Shoulders

Equipment

Cable

Step by step

How to do the Standing Cable Wood Chop

  1. 1

    Connect a standard handle to a tower, and move the cable to the highest pulley position.

  2. 2

    With your side to the cable, grab the handle with one hand and step away from the tower. You should be approximately arm's length away from the pulley, with the tension of the weight on the cable. Your outstretched arm should be aligned with the cable.

  3. 3

    With your feet positioned shoulder width apart, reach upward with your other hand and grab the handle with both hands. Your arms should still be fully extended.

  4. 4

    In one motion, pull the handle down and across your body to your front knee while rotating your torso.

  5. 5

    Keep your back and arms straight and core tight while you pivot your back foot and bend your knees to get a full range of motion.

  6. 6

    Maintain your stance and straight arms. Return to the neutral position in a slow and controlled manner.

  7. 7

    Repeat to failure.

  8. 8

    Then, reposition and repeat the same series of movements on the opposite side.

In Ascend

Log it, see it on your body.

Every Standing Cable Wood Chop set you log feeds Ascend's anatomy heatmap, so your abs volume is visible at a glance, and counts toward your bodyweight-strength tier.

Train with a goal

Where the Standing Cable Wood Chop fits

The Standing Cable Wood Chop shows up in training built around a specific goal. See how it fits:

Related

More abs exercises

FAQ

Standing Cable Wood Chop: common questions

What muscles does the Standing Cable Wood Chop work?

The Standing Cable Wood Chop primarily works the Abs. It also recruits the Shoulders as supporting muscles.

Is the Standing Cable Wood Chop suitable for beginners?

Yes. The Standing Cable Wood Chop is a beginner-level exercise, so it's a solid choice if you're new to training. Start light and focus on the movement pattern before adding load.

What equipment do I need for the Standing Cable Wood Chop?

To do the Standing Cable Wood Chop you'll need a cable machine.

Is the Standing Cable Wood Chop a compound or isolation exercise?

The Standing Cable Wood Chop is a compound exercise, it moves multiple joints and works several muscle groups at once, which makes it efficient for building overall strength.

How do I do the Standing Cable Wood Chop with correct form?

Connect a standard handle to a tower, and move the cable to the highest pulley position. Follow the full step-by-step above for the complete movement.

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