Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row vs Cable High Row

Maximizing Your Back Workout Plan

Contents

Cable High Row is the easier place to start — difficulty 2 of 5 vs 4. Compare Back form cues and when to progress.

Customize Your Back Workout: Explore the Benefits of Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row and Cable High Row for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row vs Cable High Row : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Cable High Row more often — 651 sessions compared to 455 for Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row and Cable High Row differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row and Cable High Row Differ

What differsUnderhand Smith Machine Barbell RowCable High Row
Machine typeSmith-machinecable-driven
Difficulty4 of 52 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users455 sessions651 sessions

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How to Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row

Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row gif

Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. Please pull towards your belly button so that the barbell can go up vertically.
  2. 2. While bringing your shoulder blades together, naturally pull your elbows and hands.
  3. 3. While holding the weight with your back strength, lower your hands down to below your knees.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to let your elbows flare out.
  2. 2. Please be careful not to overly straighten your back or move it up and down.
  3. 3. Engage your core to prevent your back from rounding.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row methods?Exercise Guide

How to Cable High Row

Cable High Row gif

Cable High Row muscles worked: Back

Form

  1. 1. Grab the handle from the high position of the cable machine.
  2. 2. Pull your arms back and stabilize your upper body.
  3. 3. Slowly return to the original position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to strain your shoulders by fully extending your shoulders and arms.
  2. 2. Please be careful not to let your trapezius muscles rise along with it.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Cable High Row, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Cable High Row Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Cable High Row methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Back, Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row or Cable High 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 Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row and Cable High Row need?

Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row needs a machine, and Cable High Row needs a machine.

Which is easier to start with?

Cable High Row is the easier place to start. Move to Underhand Smith Machine Barbell Row once your form holds up.

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