Reverse Grip Triceps Pushdown
The reverse grip triceps pushdown is a light weight isolation exercise targetting the long head of the triceps.
Provided you’re performing the kickback with strict form (which most guys don’t!) you’ll find this pushdown provides solid growth for the long head of the triceps.
As this is a lightweight isolation exercise I recommend performing it towards the end of your arm workout, after your heavy presses and dips.
Movement: Isolation
Targets: Triceps
Required: Cable machine + Attachment
Optional: N/A
Reverse Grip Triceps Pushdown Form:
Hold the straight bar on your cable machine with an underhand grip (your palms should be away from you).
Lean slightly forward while maintaining an overall upright position with your elbows tucked into your sides.
Flex your triceps as you push the straight bar down until your arms are fully extended, keep your upper arms in position while only your forearms are moving.
Hold the contracted position for 1 second.
Slowly begin to lower the straight bar up until it reaches lower chest height.
Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Reverse Grip Triceps Pushdown Variations
Rope Pushdown
Utlizing a rope attachment while perform your triceps pushdowns, ensuring you seperate the rope as you contract at the bottom of each repetition to get maximum triceps engagement.
V Bar Pushdown
Utilize a V bar attachment for your triceps cable pushdowns, the V bar will allow you to utilize more weight than the straight bar or rope attachments, great for applying progressive overload to the triceps.
Common Reverse Grip Triceps Pushdown Mistakes
Utilizing A Partial Range Of Motion
There’s no reason to work in a small range of motion on your pushdowns, opt to lower the bar ALL the way down by driving through the triceps until they’re locked out.
Partial range of motion = partial triceps activation.
Flaring Your Elbows Out
When performing any triceps exercise, whether it be a dumbbell overhead triceps extension or a rope pushdown it’s imperative you keep your elbows tucked in by your sides.
Flaring your elbows outwards is often a sign that the weight is too heavy (as you’re trying to muscle the shoulders in to assist with moving the weight).
Flaring the elbows on triceps exercise places your shoulders at a high risk of injury not to mention you’re only going to applying a small amount of tension to the triceps as the shoulders are trying to take over and lift the weight.
If you find yourself constantly flaring your elbows lower the weight and consciously practise tucking your elbows in to your side on each repetition until it becomes natural.
Lifting Too Light
If you don’t generally train in the lower rep range I recommend you give it a try, stop lifting in the 10 – 15 rep range for at least a month and focus on heavy, low rep sets. Once you start to see results you won’t want to go back.
Now, you may still think high reps are beneficial, but let me tell you they’re far from it.
High repetitions result in increased stress on your CNS, increase in localized inflammation and increased soreness.
“Movements or exercises that do not give the muscle the required resistance, but are the kind that involve a great number of repetitions, never break down any tissue, to speak of. These movements involve a forcing process that cause the blood to swell up the muscle, and simply pump them up”– George F. Jowett, 1926
Similar & Substitute Exercises
- Triceps Dips
- Dumbbell Skull Crushers
- Dumbbell Overhead Extension
- Close Grip Push-up
