Shoulders · Cable

Cable Shoulder Press

Constant cable tension, zero spots where the delts get to coast.

Cable Shoulder Press exercise demonstration
ShouldersSecondary: TricepsCable

How to do it

  1. Set the pulleys low and grab a handle in each hand at shoulder height, palms forward.
  2. Brace your core and stand tall with a slight knee bend.
  3. Press both handles straight overhead until your arms lock out.
  4. Lower under control back to shoulder height.

The one cue that matters

Keep your ribs down and don't arch your lower back to finish the press.

Muscles worked

Pressing overhead from low pulleys means your delts fight resistance through the entire rep, including the bottom position and lockout where free weights let you rest, and your triceps still finish the extension. Standing between the stacks with each hand on its own handle also means both shoulders press independently, no strong side quietly bailing out the weak one. It earns a place as an overhead press that keeps tension constant and exposes imbalances in the same set.

FAQ

Cable shoulder press vs dumbbell shoulder press?

Dumbbells let you load heavier, cables keep tension on your delts at the bottom and top where dumbbells go quiet. The cable version shines for higher-rep pump work and for keeping both arms honest, since each presses its own stack.

Why does my lower back arch when I press overhead?

You're leaning back to turn it into an incline press. Tuck your ribs down, squeeze your glutes, and if the arch still creeps in, the weight is heavier than your overhead position can currently handle.

Where should the pulleys be set?

On or near the lowest setting, so the cables pull down and slightly behind the handles at shoulder height. Starting with tension already on the stack from rep one is the whole advantage.

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