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Rope tricep extensions are one of the most commonly utilized exercises to build overall tricep mass.
The triceps are responsible for well over half of the muscular size in our arms.
So if you want big arms, working out your triceps is a must!
Not to mention having strong triceps will help you excel in other exercises, such as the bench press.
Proper execution of the tricep rope extension is crucial to spark serious growth.
Tricep extensions are an isolation exercise that works well for targeting the three main heads of your triceps.
Including the medial, long, and lateral head.
Table of Contents
Rope Tricep Extensions: Proper Execution
To begin the rope tricep extension you will need an overhead cable setup with a tricep rope attachment. Once you have these we’re ready to start.
Set the cables to an overhead setting, attach the rope, and firmly grasp each side of the rope handle with the palms of your hands facing inwards.
Pull the rope down to the starting position.
Have your triceps in line with one another and congruent to the floor, holding the rope out in front at roughly a ninety-degree angle.
Get your feet into a solid position with your chest stuck out, leaning over your arms.
Begin the movement by pushing the rope down.
Focus on pushing the handles away from one another at the bottom of the rep.
Try not to over-extend your arms at the bottom of the rep.
Go just far enough down and apart with your hands until you feel that your triceps have a good amount of tension.
At the top of the rep, bringing your arms up to a ninety-degree angle is plenty high enough.
Extending the range of motion too far at either point of the rep may take tension off of the triceps.
This may lead to added stress on the wrists, elbows, and delts. We want to avoid that as best we can to hone in on that tricep isolation.
Single Arm Rope Tricep Extension
Single-arm rope extensions are a great variation to use, specifically if you have imbalances in your triceps.
Start each set with your weaker arm.
When switching to the stronger arm be sure to use the same amount of weight with an equal amount of reps as you used for the weak side.
For this movement, you can tie the double-arm rope in a knot to extend one handle.
You can also purchase a single-arm tricep rope.
The range of motion will be similar to the double-arm variation.
Go down until your tricep is fully contracted and aim for an eccentric at about ninety degrees.
You will set up in a staggered stance with the foot opposite of your pressing arm in front.
Forced Reps
To fully maximize the tricep pump, adding in forced reps is key.
Once you can no longer complete the full range of motion, continue doing partial reps.
We want to be mindful of form with these.
Try to avoid any unnecessary momentum or swinging.
When you hit the limit of how far down your triceps will go, hold it there for a second or two and let it burn.
If you want to add even more power towards the end, try stepping further away from the cables and leaning over your triceps.
This will give you more leverage to crank out a few more partial reps.
Rope Cable Extensions: Video Demonstration
Below is a video demonstration of the rope cable extensions.
I will perform both the double and single-arm variations, along with forced reps.
Full Tricep Workout
Tricep extensions in general are great to use at the beginning of your workout.
They do a good job of pre-exhausting the muscles and getting the mind-to-muscle connection.
Doing them at the start may also save some unnecessary tendon, shoulder, and elbow strain.
Because if you do a heavy compound like close grip bench or skull crushers you won’t have to use as much weight if they’re already pre-exhausted.
Below is a full tricep workout for you to try.
Add it in on your next chest or arm day!
- Rope Tricep Extensions: 3 sets of 12
- After the 3 sets of 12 do another set to failure then add in 10 forced reps
- EZ Bar Skull Crushers: 3×8-10
- Get a nice eccentric stretch with these
- Tricep-Focused Dip Machine: 2×20
- Burn out your triceps with these
- If you can’t get to 20, do partial reps
Give this workout a try and go grow them horseshoes!
Thanks for reading…
Stay Wild!
