Exercise 1632 · REF dXz8zjF

Cable Drag Curl exercise animation

Cable Drag Curl

Category
Upper Arms
Equipment
Cable
Target
Biceps

The drag curl pulls the elbows back as the bar rises instead of keeping them fixed in place, which shortens the front-delt involvement and keeps tension locked onto the biceps through a straighter bar path. It's a technique borrowed from old-school bodybuilding to reduce shoulder cheating on heavier curls. The bar should stay in contact with the torso the whole way up — losing that contact usually means the front delts have taken over.

How to Do the Cable Drag Curl

  1. Stand facing a cable machine with your feet shoulder-width apart.
  2. Grasp the cable attachment with an underhand grip, palms facing up, and arms fully extended.
  3. Keeping your upper arms stationary, exhale and curl the cable attachment towards your shoulders by contracting your biceps.
  4. Pause for a moment at the top of the movement, squeezing your biceps.
  5. Inhale and slowly lower the cable attachment back to the starting position, fully extending your arms.
  6. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Muscles Worked

The Cable Drag Curl primarily targets the Biceps, with Forearms as the primary synergist muscle group.

More Upper Arms Exercises

More Biceps Exercises

Equipment Alternatives

Don't have cable? These target the same biceps with different equipment.

FAQ

What muscles does the Cable Drag Curl work?
The Cable Drag Curl primarily targets the biceps, with the forearms as the main supporting muscle group.
What equipment do I need for the Cable Drag Curl?
The Cable Drag Curl is done with a cable.
What's a good alternative to the Cable Drag Curl?
If you don't have access to a cable, the Biceps Leg Concentration Curl targets the same biceps using body weight instead.