HamstringsGlutesBackCable Machineintermediate

Cable Romanian Deadlift

The cable Romanian deadlift applies constant cable tension throughout the hip hinge, eliminating the dead spot at the top that barbells have. Attach a straight bar to a low pulley, hinge back, and drive your hips through against the horizontal pull.

How to Perform

1

Face the cable stack with a straight bar or rope attachment from the low pulley.

2

Step back to create tension, then hinge at the hips while keeping your back flat.

3

Lower until you feel a deep hamstring stretch — the cable keeps tension constant.

4

Snap your hips through to standing, squeezing your glutes hard at the top.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Standing too close to the machine, creating slack in the cable at the bottom.

Pulling with the arms or shrugging the shoulders instead of driving with the hips.

Rounding the lower back to increase range of motion beyond what your flexibility allows.

Muscle Activation

Hamstrings80%
Glutes55%
Back30%

Variations

Barbell Romanian DeadliftSingle-Arm Cable RDL

Track your Cable Romanian Deadlift progress with Revy

Log your sets, see your strength gains over time, and get AI-powered recommendations to break through plateaus.