How to Do One Arm Lat Pulldown
Start and end of one clean rep of One Arm Lat Pulldown.
Quick facts
| Primary muscle | Back |
|---|---|
| Secondary muscles | Biceps |
| Equipment | Cable |
| Category | Strength |
How to perform One Arm Lat Pulldown
- Select an appropriate weight and adjust the knee pad to help keep you down. Grasp the handle with a pronated grip. This will be your starting position.
- Pull the handle down, squeezing your elbow to your side as you flex the elbow.
- Pause at the bottom of the motion, and then slowly return the handle to the starting position.
- For multiple repetitions, avoid completely returning the weight to keep tension on the muscles being worked.
Muscles worked
- Back (primary): pulls the arms down and toward the torso and keeps the spine stable.
- Biceps (secondary): bends the elbow and turns the palm up during pulls and curls.
Sets & reps by goal
| Goal | Sets × reps | Load | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | 3–5 × 3–5 | Heavy (~85%+) | 2–3 min |
| Hypertrophy | 3–4 × 8–12 | Moderate (~65–75%) | 60–90 s |
| Endurance | 2–3 × 15–20 | Lighter (~50–60%) | 30–45 s |
Pick the row that matches your goal. If you're newer, anchor in the hypertrophy range while you groove the form.
Form tips
- Start each rep by pulling the shoulder blades in first, then drive with the elbows — think of pulling with the elbows, not the hands.
- Keep tension on the cable through the whole range — pause before the stack touches down instead of letting it crash.
- Treat every rep the same — a repeatable setup and bar path is what lets you add weight safely over time.
- Warm up the pattern with a couple of lighter, submaximal sets before your working sets.
Common mistakes
- Yanking with the arms and forgetting the back, so the biceps give out before the target muscle does.
- Letting the stack yank the working muscle back at the end of each rep.
- Chasing weight jumps before the current load feels solid on every rep.
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does One Arm Lat Pulldown work?
One Arm Lat Pulldown mainly works the back, with the biceps helping as secondary movers.
What equipment do I need for One Arm Lat Pulldown?
One Arm Lat Pulldown needs a cable station with the right handle attachment.
How many sets and reps should I do for One Arm Lat Pulldown?
It depends on your goal: about 3–5 sets of 3–5 heavy reps for strength, 3–4 sets of 8–12 for muscle growth, or 2–3 sets of 15–20 for endurance. Pick the row that matches your goal. If you're newer, anchor in the hypertrophy range while you groove the form.
Train One Arm Lat Pulldown with a coach in your pocket
Gimmy is your AI gym buddy — it programs One Arm Lat Pulldown into recovery-aware workouts, tracks your sets, and shows one score that tells you if it's working.
Get early access