Cable exercises are growing increasingly popular in commercial gyms. These exercises provide a refreshing break from staple free weight activities like barbell and dumbbell exercises.
The cable is often wrongly viewed as a very limiting piece of equipment for building rock-hard abs and a strong core.
With a cable machine, you will be able to train your abs directly for harder and longer.
Below, we have provided the ten best cable exercises for a stronger core.
If you are new to the gym, a cable machine might look like an intimidating piece of equipment. This tall steel structure with attached pulleys and resistance might look imposing, but it is helpful for training regardless of your fitness level.
Free weights might be considered a staple, but the cable machine provides an array of exercises that works all major muscle groups from different angles.
In fact, cable machines allow performance with a greater range of motion than free weights.
This will enable you to exercise in different planes of motion with retractable pulleys and adjustable weights to suit your exercise routine. It provides a means for you to perform a plethora of exercises while remaining safe from injuries.
Cable machines are especially great for your core as they provide a constant tension that lasts throughout your routine.
This is something that not all free weight exercises provide.
Since core strength increases your functional and athletic performance, you undoubtedly need to add cable ab exercises to your workout routine. So, in case you are tired of regular ab exercises like crunches and you are interested in spicing up your ab routines, we have provided the best cable ab exercises just for you.
From kneeling cable crunches to cable woodchops, we have compiled the best ab exercises for a stronger core. These exercises are in no particular order, and their execution ranges from beginner-friendly to veteran athletes. Regardless of the cable ab exercise you choose to perform, you must play by the book.
Keep your form perfect throughout your reps. For even better results, pair your exercises with PUMPED-AF for extra muscle pumps, increased muscle endurance, muscle fullness, and greater performance.
The best ten cable ab exercises include:
The kneeling cable crunch is a spin-off of the regular crunch. The significant difference between the two is the implementation of the cable machine and the kneeling position for execution.
The kneeling cable crunch is a weighted crunch exercise that targets and activates the abdominal muscles. It primarily engages the rectus abdominis, six-pack muscle, and other core muscles.
To do the kneeling cable crunch:
The standing cable crunch works similarly to the execution of the kneeling cable crunch. This core strengthening exercise features a greater range of motion, and so it is more challenging to get maximum contractions of the abdominal muscle.
The standing cable crunch is a beginner-level exercise that not only provides a stronger core but a stronger and more stable lower back.
To do the standing cable crunch:
The distance of the range of motion for the standing cable crunch can be adjusted as you wish. However, it is better to keep the length short for maximum contraction.
The cable reverse crunch simulates the conventional reverse punch. Like the latter, the cable reverse crunch packs a punch on your abs, engaging and activating the major core muscles.
To do the cable reverse crunch:
The cable woodchop switches up any workout routine. It is a welcome breath of fresh air from other regular crunching movements. This unique exercise replicates the wood hopping action with added resistance to build strength in your core.
Cable wood hops are a welcome addition to any routine, either a full-body workout or a core-strengthening exercise.
To do the cable woodchop:
Pretend like you are chopping down a tree but do so with slower and controlled movements.
The cable medicine ball Russian twist might sound like a mouthful, but it is the addition you need for a killer core-blasting exercise. It is a splendid functional exercise bound to increase your athletic performance by targeting your major ab muscles, obliques inclusive.
Unlike its predecessors, the cable medicine ball Russian twist is more demanding and requires more lance and stability for proper execution.
To do the cable medicine ball Russian twists:
The cable tuck reverse crunch is every beginner’s cable machine nightmare. This exercise requires not just one but two cable machines for its execution. The cable tuck reverse crunch blasts your core muscles. Be careful; you’ll feel this exercise burn your abs.
To do the cable tuck reverse crunch:
The high-pulley side bend is one of the least popular and practiced cable exercises. This exercise is very similar to the dumbbell side bend but results in a pronounced engagement of the obliques on the side being trained.
The high-pulley side bend is beginner-friendly and a great way to give your core a workout.
To do the High-pulley side bends:
The plank cable row would make your insides scream. Nothing crushes the abs more than a hybrid exercise which is a mixture of plank and rows. The plank cable row is an isometric exercise that targets major muscle groups like the back, biceps, and abdominals.
If you are looking for a quick way to strengthen your core, this exercise belongs to your routine.
To do the plank cable row:
If you think the plank cable row is terrible, try having a go at the side plank cable row. It attacks the core, abs, back, and arms in a way you have never seen before. The side plank cable row might look monstrous, but it is an easy exercise that can be performed regardless of your fitness level.
To do the side plank cable row:
Keeping balance is one of the most challenging feats when performing the side plank cable row. To make it easier, place your supporting forearm palm-down on the floor and pre-tension the supporting shoulder.
The cable judo flip sounds and looks like a martial arts move, precisely one of the Judo flips. It is a terrific exercise for targeting the core muscles and showing off to the boys at the gym. Although the cable judo flip looks technical, it is easy to learn and perfect.
To do the cable judo flip:
Combine any of these exercises to create a killer core-strengthening cable workout routine. This is bound to take your core from zero to hero, helping you improve your performance in and outside the gym.
As much as exercise is important to you, so is recovery and proper dieting. Meals rich in macronutrients will help synthesize new muscle growth and fuel you through your workouts. Recovery, on the other hand, helps your torn-down fibers, which are a result of training to heal.
Rest between sets and most especially after your workout routine. This would replenish the energy your body has lost and would give your body time to heal.
Knowing the cable ab exercise to choose depends on your fitness goal and current fitness level. Regardless of the choice you make, all exercises on this list are guaranteed to help you achieve a strong core in no time.
For the best result, pair your cable ab exercises with any of the oblique exercises for monstrous core strength.
