Smith Machine Barbell Row vs One Arm Seated Cable Row
Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan
Contents
One Arm Seated Cable Row is the easier place to start — difficulty 2 of 5 vs 3. Compare Back form cues and when to progress.
Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Smith Machine Barbell Row and One Arm Seated Cable Row for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Smith Machine Barbell Row vs One Arm Seated Cable Row : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Smith Machine Barbell Row more often — 4,483 sessions compared to 2,736 for One Arm Seated Cable Row.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Smith Machine Barbell Row and One Arm Seated Cable Row differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Smith Machine Barbell Row and One Arm Seated Cable Row Differ
| What differs | Smith Machine Barbell Row | One Arm Seated Cable Row |
|---|---|---|
| Machine type | Smith-machine | cable-driven |
| One side at a time | No | Yes |
| Difficulty | 3 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 4,483 sessions | 2,736 sessions |
How to Smith Machine Barbell Row
Smith Machine Barbell Row muscles worked: Back
Form
- 1. Please pull the bar towards your belly button.
- 2. While bringing your shoulder blades together, naturally pull your elbows and hands.
- 3. Hold the weight with the strength of your back and lower your hands down to below your knees.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to let your elbows flare out.
- 2. Please be careful not to overly straighten your back or move it up and down.
- 3. Engage your core to prevent your back from rounding.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Smith Machine Barbell Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Smith Machine Barbell Row Guide page of our blog!
How to One Arm Seated Cable Row
One Arm Seated Cable Row muscles worked: Back
Form
- 1. While gathering your shoulder blades, naturally pull your arms back.
- 2. Pull until your elbows are vertical.
- 3. With your back straight, fully extend your elbows and return to the starting position.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to let your elbows flare out.
- 2. Please keep your chest open to prevent your back from rounding.
- 3. Please stabilize your back so it doesn't move back and forth.
If you want to know a detailed guide to One Arm Seated Cable Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the One Arm Seated Cable Row Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Back, Smith Machine Barbell Row or One Arm Seated Cable Row?
Neither is clearly ahead — Planfit users log both at a similar rate. They both train Back, so the choice comes down to the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
What equipment do Smith Machine Barbell Row and One Arm Seated Cable Row need?
Smith Machine Barbell Row needs a machine, and One Arm Seated Cable Row needs a machine.
Which is easier to start with?
One Arm Seated Cable Row is the easier place to start. Move to Smith Machine Barbell Row once your form holds up.
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