Wood chopper
- Set a cable pulley to a high position and attach a handle. Stand sideways to the machine, a step or two away, with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Reach up and across your body to grab the handle with both hands. Begin with your arms straight, torso rotated toward the machine, and tension on the cable.
- In a smooth, powerful motion, pull the handle down and across your body toward your opposite hip. Rotate through your torso and pivot your back foot as you chop down.
- Control the resistance as you return the handle along the same path to the starting position. Complete all reps on one side before switching.
Tips
- Drive the movement by rotating through your torso rather than pulling with your arms, keeping your arms relatively straight throughout the chop.
- Allow your back foot to pivot as you rotate so your hips can turn fully through the movement.
- Keep your feet planted at their starting width and resist any sideways shifting of your base as you pull the cable across your body.
Common mistakes
- Bending the elbows and pulling the handle in close to the body turns the movement into an arm pull rather than a torso rotation.
- Rushing the return phase and letting the cable snap the handle back causes you to lose control of the path and cuts the range of motion short.
- Rotating only the shoulders while the hips stay fixed reduces the diagonal range the handle travels across the body.
Make Every Set Count.
Plan your workouts, track every session, and see your progress over time.
