Single Arm Reverse Grip Cable Overhead Triceps Extension
In SetGrip: Cable Overhead Triceps Extension (Single Arm, Reverse Grip)
- Secondary muscles
- Delts
- Body part
- Upper Arms
- Position
- Standing
- Laterality
- Unilateral (one arm at a time)
- Category
- Strength
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Facing away from the stack with an underhand grip, you extend one arm overhead while the cable keeps tension into the deep stretch behind your head. The supinated wrist keeps the elbow pointing forward more naturally than the overhand single-arm version, though the grip limits load; this is a slow, feel-focused movement, not a heavy one.
How to do the Single Arm Reverse Grip Cable Overhead Triceps Extension
- Stand facing away from the cable machine with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Hold the cable handle with an underhand grip and extend your arm overhead, keeping your elbow close to your head.
- Keep your upper arm stationary and slowly lower the cable handle behind your head by bending your elbow.
- Pause for a moment at the bottom, then extend your arm back to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions, then switch arms.
Tip: Keep a slight bend at the top on lying extensions to protect the elbow, but lock out fully on cable pushdowns.
Muscles worked
Primary
Triceps · Arms
The triceps straighten the elbow, and overhead variations stretch the long head at the bottom, so you should feel the whole back of the upper arm working with a hard squeeze at lockout.
Secondary
- Delts — The front delt holds the upper arm in position on overhead extensions and should feel tension but not be lifting.
Common mistakes
- Elbows flaring out — on overhead and lying extensions the elbows should stay pointed forward or up, not out to the sides, since flaring turns it into a press.
- Upper arm moving — the upper arm should be pinned in place and only the forearm should move; if the elbow drifts, drop the weight.
- Not finishing the rep — take every rep to a full triceps squeeze; on pushdowns that means a complete lockout for a count.
- Cutting the stretch — on overhead extensions let the weight travel down behind the head until you feel the long head stretch before pressing up.
Where it fits in a workout
Triceps extensions go after the presses in a push session or at the end of an arm day. Superset them with biceps curls.
How many sets, how heavy and how hard: see what the ACSM position stands support.
Variations and alternatives
Similar exercises
Without cable
When to talk to someone
- Chest discomfort, feeling faint or lightheaded, or trouble breathing during or after exercise can be signs of a heart attack. In the US, call 911 right away; elsewhere, call your local emergency number.
- Heart, metabolic or kidney disease, or symptoms like these when you are active: talk to your doctor before you start or step up training.
- Pregnant: ask your obstetric care provider which exercise suits you.
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More exercises
- All arms exercises
- All triceps exercises
- All cable exercises
- Cable triceps exercises
- Banded Single Arm Side Triceps Extension
- Behind Head Close Grip Barbell Lying Triceps Extension
- Seated Close Grip Barbell Overhead Triceps Extension
- Barbell Skull Crusher
- Behind Head Barbell Skull Crusher
- Reverse Grip Barbell Skull Crusher
Sources
- ACSM position stand on exercise quantity and quality (Garber et al., 2011)
- ACSM preparticipation health screening (Riebe et al., 2015)
- ACOG Committee Opinion No. 804 on exercise in pregnancy (2020)
- CDC: About Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery (2024)
Sources checked on October 17, 2026. Full citations are in the exercise library.
Animation and exercise data: ExerciseDB, licensed to SetGrip. General information, not medical or coaching advice.