Muscle BuildingBackCable Machine30 MinutesAdvanced

30 Minutes Advanced Back Workout with Cable Machine

A 30 minutes muscle building workout targeting your back using cable machine equipment. 3 exercises, 11 total sets, designed for advanced lifters.

30 Minutes

Duration

11

Total Sets

8-12 reps

Rep Range

~385

Est. Calories

The Workout

1
Single-Arm Cable Row
4 sets x 6-8 reps|Rest: 60-90 seconds
intermediate

Start with this as your primary movement. Warm up with 2 lighter sets first.

Form cues
  • Set the cable to belly-button height and stand in a staggered stance for balance.
  • Pull the handle toward your hip, leading with your elbow and squeezing your shoulder blade back.
  • Keep your torso square — resist the urge to rotate toward the working side.
2
Straight-Arm Pulldown
3 sets x 8-12 reps|Rest: 60-90 seconds
beginner

Stand facing a high cable with feet shoulder-width apart.

Form cues
  • Stand facing a high cable with feet shoulder-width apart.
  • Grip the bar with straight arms, hands slightly wider than shoulders.
  • Hinge forward slightly and pull the bar down to your thighs in an arc.
3
Cable Straight-Arm Lat Pushdown
4 sets x 6-8 reps|Rest: 60-90 seconds
intermediate

Finish strong — take the last set close to failure.

Form cues
  • Set a cable to the highest position with a straight bar or rope attachment.
  • Stand two feet back from the machine, hinge slightly forward at the hips.
  • With arms nearly straight, push the bar down toward your thighs in an arc.

Why This Workout Works

This workout is built around the principles of muscle building training. Use moderate loads (65-80% of your 1RM) with controlled eccentrics and full range of motion. Prioritize progressive overload by adding reps before adding weight. Train each muscle group 2x per week with 10-20 hard sets per muscle per week.

Training Parameters

  • Rep Range: 8-12 repsthe hypertrophy sweet spot for maximum muscle growth
  • Rest Periods: 60-90 secondslong enough for quality reps, short enough for metabolic stress
  • Sets Per Exercise: 3-4 sets — optimized for muscle building

Back Training Tips

  • *Initiate every pull by squeezing your shoulder blades together — think about pulling with your elbows, not your hands.
  • *Use straps on heavy rows so grip fatigue does not limit back development.
  • *Include both vertical pulls (pulldowns, pull-ups) and horizontal pulls (rows) in your program.

Get this back workout personalized for you

Revy's AI will analyze your training history, recovery status, and strength levels to customize every set, rep, and weight for maximum muscle building results.