10 Best Alternatives to Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
The Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck is done seated with a cable machine. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Wide Grip Pull-up, the Wide-grip Rear Pull-up and the Rear Pull-up.
Updated Ranked by our 12-factor similarity model How it works
Original Exercise: Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
- Primary muscle
- Lats
- Equipment
- Cable
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Type
- Compound
Secondary muscles: Biceps, Rhomboids, Rear Deltoids
How to perform Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
- Adjust the cable machine so that the pulldown bar is at a height above your head.
- Sit down on the seat and grab the pulldown bar with a wide overhand grip.
- Keep your back straight and your chest up as you lean back slightly.
- Pull the bar down towards your upper chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
- Pause for a moment at the bottom of the movement, then slowly release the bar back up to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Ranked Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck Alternatives
10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck 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.
Best match 1. Wide Grip Pull-up
68% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Advanced
- Compound
Use this when you have nothing to train with, because it works the lats with bodyweight alone.
How to perform this exercise
- Hang from a pull-up bar with your palms facing away from you and your hands wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Engage your core and squeeze your shoulder blades together.
- Pull your body up towards the bar until your chin is above the bar.
- Lower your body back down to the starting position with control.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
- Body position: hanging, not seated
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck

2. Wide-grip Rear Pull-up
68% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Advanced
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Grab the pull-up bar with the palms facing forward using a wide grip.
- As you have both arms extended in front of you holding the bar, bring your torso forward and head so that there is an imaginary line from the pull-up bar to the back of your neck. This is your starting position.
- Pull your torso up until the bar is near the back of your neck. To do this, draw the shoulders and upper arms down and back while slightly leaning your head forward. Exhale as you perform this portion of the movement. Tip: Concentrate on squeezing the back muscles once you reach the full contracted position. The upper torso should remain stationary as it moves through space and only the arms should move. The forearms should do no other work other than hold the bar.
- After a second on the contracted position, start to inhale and slowly lower your torso back to the starting position when your arms are fully extended and the lats are fully stretched.
- Repeat this motion for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
- Body position: hanging, not seated
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
3. Rear Pull-up
67% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Grab the pull-up bar with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Hang from the bar with your arms fully extended and your body straight.
- Engage your back muscles and pull your body up towards the bar, keeping your elbows close to your body.
- Continue pulling until your chin is above the bar.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your body back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
- Body position: hanging, not seated
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
4. Bench Pull-ups
66% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Position yourself under a bar or a sturdy horizontal surface that is at chest height.
- Grab the bar or surface with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Hang with your arms fully extended and your body straight.
- Pull your chest towards the bar or surface by squeezing your shoulder blades together and bending your elbows.
- Continue pulling until your chin is above the bar or surface.
- Lower yourself back down to the starting position with control.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
- Body position: hanging, not seated
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
5. Pull-up
66% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Advanced
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Hang from a pull-up bar with your palms facing away from you and your arms fully extended.
- Engage your core and squeeze your shoulder blades together.
- Pull your body up towards the bar by bending your elbows and bringing your chest towards the bar.
- Pause at the top of the movement, then slowly lower your body back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
- Body position: hanging, not seated
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck

6. Pullups
66% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Grab the pull-up bar with the palms facing forward using the prescribed grip. Note on grips: For a wide grip, your hands need to be spaced out at a distance wider than your shoulder width. For a medium grip, your hands need to be spaced out at a distance equal to your shoulder width and for a close grip at a distance smaller than your shoulder width.
- As you have both arms extended in front of you holding the bar at the chosen grip width, bring your torso back around 30 degrees or so while creating a curvature on your lower back and sticking your chest out. This is your starting position.
- Pull your torso up until the bar touches your upper chest by drawing the shoulders and the upper arms down and back. Exhale as you perform this portion of the movement. Tip: Concentrate on squeezing the back muscles once you reach the full contracted position. The upper torso should remain stationary as it moves through space and only the arms should move. The forearms should do no other work other than hold the bar.
- After a second on the contracted position, start to inhale and slowly lower your torso back to the starting position when your arms are fully extended and the lats are fully stretched.
- Repeat this motion for the prescribed amount of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
- Body position: hanging, not seated
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
7. Rocky Pull-up Pulldown
66% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Advanced
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Stand in front of a pull-up bar with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Reach up and grab the bar with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Hang from the bar with your arms fully extended and your body straight.
- Engage your back muscles and pull your body up towards the bar, leading with your chest.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your body back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
- Body position: hanging, not seated
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
8. Shoulder Grip Pull-up
66% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Advanced
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Grab the pull-up bar with a shoulder-width grip, palms facing away from you.
- Hang freely with your arms fully extended.
- Engage your back muscles and pull your body up towards the bar until your chin is above the bar.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your body back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
- Body position: hanging, not seated
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
9. Reverse Grip Pull-up
65% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Grab the pull-up bar with an underhand grip, hands shoulder-width apart.
- Hang from the bar with your arms fully extended and your body straight.
- Engage your back muscles and pull your body up towards the bar, leading with your chest.
- Continue pulling until your chin is above the bar.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your body back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
- Body position: hanging, not seated
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
10. L-pull-up
64% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Grab the pull-up bar with an overhand grip, slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
- Hang with your arms fully extended and your body straight.
- Engage your lats and biceps to pull your body up towards the bar, keeping your elbows close to your body.
- Continue pulling until your chin is above the bar.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your body back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, the same as the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not a cable
- Body position: hanging, not seated
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than the Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck
Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck FAQ
What muscles does Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck work?
The move primarily targets the latissimus dorsi while also recruiting the teres major, posterior deltoids, and upper back stabilizers (rhomboids, middle trapezius). Proper execution requires scapular depression and retraction to load the lats and minimize biceps-dominant pulling.
What is the best bodyweight alternative to Cable Wide Grip Rear Pulldown Behind Neck?
Pull-ups, especially wide-grip or chest-to-bar variations, are the top bodyweight alternative as they load the lats through a similar vertical-pull pattern. Cue: pull your elbows down and back, drive your chest toward the bar, and maintain scapular retraction to maximize lat recruitment.
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