60 Minutes Intermediate Traps Workout with Cable Machine
A 60 minutes muscle building workout targeting your traps using cable machine equipment. 5 exercises, 16 total sets, designed for intermediate lifters.
60 Minutes
Duration
16
Total Sets
8-12 reps
Rep Range
~672
Est. Calories
The Workout
Start with this as your primary movement. Warm up with 2 lighter sets first.
Form cues
- Attach a straight bar to a low cable and stand close to the machine.
- Pull the bar up along your body by leading with your elbows — they should point to the ceiling.
- Stop when your elbows reach shoulder height to avoid impingement.
Stand between two high cable pulleys, gripping a handle in each hand.
Form cues
- Stand between two high cable pulleys, gripping a handle in each hand.
- Start with your shoulders shrugged up by the weight.
- Pull your shoulders down and back by depressing the scapulae.
Stand between two high cables or under a lat pulldown bar with arms fully extended overhead.
Form cues
- Stand between two high cables or under a lat pulldown bar with arms fully extended overhead.
- Without bending the elbows, depress your shoulder blades — pull your shoulders away from your ears.
- Hold the depressed position for a two-count, then slowly allow the shoulders to elevate.
Set the cable at upper-chest or face height with a rope attachment.
Form cues
- Set the cable at upper-chest or face height with a rope attachment.
- Pull the rope toward your face with elbows high and wide.
- At the end of the pull, rotate your hands upward so your arms form a goal-post shape.
Finish strong — take the last set close to failure.
Form cues
- Stand facing or between two low cables, holding the handles or a bar attachment.
- Shrug your shoulders straight up toward your ears.
- Hold the peak contraction for 2 seconds.
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 reps — the hypertrophy sweet spot for maximum muscle growth
- Rest Periods: 60-90 seconds — long enough for quality reps, short enough for metabolic stress
- Sets Per Exercise: 3-4 sets — optimized for muscle building
Traps Training Tips
- *Heavy shrugs build the upper traps but neglect the mid and lower traps — add face pulls and prone Y-raises.
- *Hold the peak contraction for 1-2 seconds on shrugs instead of bouncing the weight.
- *Deadlifts and rack pulls are underrated trap builders — heavy isometric loading is very effective.
Get this traps workout personalized for you
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