10 Best Cable Twisting Pull Alternatives for Rotation and Pulling Strength

The Cable Twisting Pull is done standing with a cable machine. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Bodyweight Standing Close-grip One Arm Row, the Bodyweight Standing One Arm Row and the Bodyweight Standing One Arm Row (With Towel).

Updated Ranked by our 12-factor similarity model How it works

Original Exercise: Cable Twisting Pull

Cable Twisting PullPlay demonstration
Primary muscle
Lats
Equipment
Cable
Difficulty
Intermediate
Type
Compound

Secondary muscles: Shoulders, Biceps

How to perform Cable Twisting Pull
  1. Attach a cable handle to a low pulley and stand facing the machine.
  2. Grasp the handle with your left hand and step away from the machine, extending your arm fully.
  3. Position your feet shoulder-width apart, with your knees slightly bent.
  4. Keep your back straight and your core engaged throughout the exercise.
  5. Pull the handle towards your body, rotating your torso to the right as you do so.
  6. Squeeze your back muscles at the end of the movement.
  7. Slowly return to the starting position, keeping tension on the cable.
  8. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch sides and perform with your right hand.
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Ranked Cable Twisting Pull Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Cable Twisting Pull on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

  1. 45° Side BendPlay demonstration

    1. 45° Side Bend

    50% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Isolation

    A looser match: it works the abs rather than the lats.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms extended straight down by your sides.
    2. Keeping your back straight and your core engaged, slowly bend your torso to one side, lowering your hand towards your knee.
    3. Pause for a moment at the bottom, then slowly return to the starting position.
    4. Repeat on the other side.
    5. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps on each side, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, not lats
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Cable Twisting Pull
  2. Best match
    Bodyweight Standing Close-grip One Arm RowPlay demonstration

    2. Bodyweight Standing Close-grip One Arm Row

    48% match
    • Lats
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound

    Use this when you have nothing to train with, because it works the lats with bodyweight alone.

    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and hold a dumbbell in one hand with a neutral grip.
    2. Bend forward at the hips, keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
    3. Pull the dumbbell up towards your chest, keeping your elbow close to your body and squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the dumbbell back down to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch sides.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Cable Twisting Pull
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Cable Twisting Pull
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Twisting Pull
  3. Bodyweight Standing One Arm RowPlay demonstration

    3. Bodyweight Standing One Arm Row

    48% match
    • Lats
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and hold a dumbbell in one hand.
    2. Bend forward at the hips, keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
    3. Let the dumbbell hang straight down in front of you, with your arm fully extended.
    4. Pull the dumbbell up towards your chest, keeping your elbow close to your body.
    5. Squeeze your shoulder blades together at the top of the movement.
    6. Lower the dumbbell back down to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch sides.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Cable Twisting Pull
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Cable Twisting Pull
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Twisting Pull
  4. Hanging Straight Twisting Leg Hip RaisePlay demonstration

    4. Hanging Straight Twisting Leg Hip Raise

    47% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Advanced
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Hang from a pull-up bar with your arms fully extended and your legs straight.
    2. Engage your core and lift your legs up towards your chest, keeping them straight.
    3. Once your legs are parallel to the ground, twist your hips to one side, bringing your legs towards that side.
    4. Pause for a moment, then return to the starting position.
    5. Repeat the movement, but this time twist your hips to the opposite side.
    6. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, not lats
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: hanging, not standing
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Twisting Pull
  5. Bodyweight Standing One Arm Row (With Towel)Play demonstration

    5. Bodyweight Standing One Arm Row (With Towel)

    47% match
    • Lats
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and hold a towel with one hand.
    2. Bend forward at the hips, keeping your back straight and your core engaged.
    3. Pull the towel towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    4. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the towel back to the starting position.
    5. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch to the other arm.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Cable Twisting Pull
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Cable Twisting Pull
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Twisting Pull
  6. Bodyweight Standing RowPlay demonstration

    6. Bodyweight Standing Row

    46% match
    • Lats
    • Bodyweight
    • Beginner
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and knees slightly bent.
    2. Grasp a bar or handles with an overhand grip, palms facing down.
    3. Keep your back straight and core engaged.
    4. Pull the bar or handles towards your body, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
    5. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement.
    6. Slowly release and extend your arms back to the starting position.
    7. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Cable Twisting Pull
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Cable Twisting Pull
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Twisting Pull
  7. Side Jackknife

    7. Side Jackknife

    45% match
    • Abdominals
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Isolation

    A looser match: it works the abdominals rather than the lats.

    How to perform this exercise

    Sets and reps: 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abdominals, not lats
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: lying face down, not standing
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Twisting Pull
  8. Crab Twist Toe TouchPlay demonstration

    8. Crab Twist Toe Touch

    44% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Start by sitting on the ground with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
    2. Place your hands behind you, fingers pointing towards your feet, and lift your hips off the ground.
    3. Extend one leg straight out in front of you while simultaneously reaching your opposite hand towards your toes.
    4. Return to the starting position and repeat on the other side.
    5. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, not lats
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: seated, not standing
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Twisting Pull
  9. Hanging Oblique Knee RaisePlay demonstration

    9. Hanging Oblique Knee Raise

    44% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Advanced
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Hang from a pull-up bar with your arms fully extended and your palms facing away from you.
    2. Engage your core and lift your knees towards your chest, twisting your torso to the side as you do so.
    3. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your legs back down to the starting position.
    4. Repeat on the other side, twisting your torso in the opposite direction.
    5. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, not lats
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: hanging, not standing
    • Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Twisting Pull
  10. Incline Twisting Sit-upPlay demonstration

    10. Incline Twisting Sit-up

    44% match
    • Abs
    • Bodyweight
    • Intermediate
    • Compound
    How to perform this exercise
    1. Set up an incline bench at a 45-degree angle.
    2. Lie down on the bench with your feet secured under the foot pads.
    3. Place your hands behind your head or across your chest.
    4. Engage your abs and lift your upper body off the bench, curling forward.
    5. As you curl up, twist your torso to one side, bringing your elbow towards the opposite knee.
    6. Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your upper body back down to the starting position.
    7. Repeat the movement, this time twisting your torso to the other side.
    8. Continue alternating sides for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: abs, not lats
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
    • Body position: lying on your back, not standing
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than the Cable Twisting Pull

Cable Twisting Pull FAQ

Can I train the Cable Twisting Pull at home?

Not easily. Every one of these swaps still needs a cable station or a barbell, so bodyweight alone will not give you the same load. With neither piece of equipment at hand, treat this movement and its swaps as ones to save for a full gym session rather than forcing a home substitute.

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Similarity scores compare exercise metadata such as movement pattern, muscles, equipment and body position. They are not a safety rating or a check that you own the equipment. Learn about our methodology