Exercise guide · Intermediate · Compound

Cable Alternate Shoulder Press: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The cable alternate shoulder press is a strength exercise targeting the deltoid muscles. It involves pressing one cable handle overhead at a time, alternating arms, and requires stability and coordination.

Primary muscles
Shoulders
Secondary muscles
Traps , Triceps
Equipment
Cable
Level · type
Intermediate · Compound
Demonstration of the cable alternate shoulder press
Front view: muscles worked by the cable alternate shoulder press. Primary: shoulders. Secondary: traps and triceps.
Back view: muscles worked by the cable alternate shoulder press. Primary: shoulders. Secondary: traps and triceps.
Primary Secondary

How to do the cable alternate shoulder press

  1. Step 1: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and grasp the handles of the cable machine with an overhand grip.
  2. Step 2: Position your hands at shoulder height, with your palms facing forward.
  3. Step 3: Keep your core engaged and your back straight.
  4. Step 4: Press one handle up and forward until your arm is fully extended.
  5. Step 5: Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower the handle back to the starting position.
  6. Step 6: Repeat with the other arm.
  7. Step 7: Alternate between arms for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the cable alternate shoulder press by training goal
Goal Sets Reps Rest Effort
Strength 3–5 3–6 3–5 min 1–3 reps in reserve
Muscle growth 3–4 6–12 2–3 min 1–2 reps in reserve
Muscular endurance 2–3 12–20 1–2 min 1–3 reps in reserve

Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.

Cable Alternate Shoulder Press alternatives

More exercises that train the shoulders as their main target:

More shoulders exercises

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Sources

  1. American College of Sports Medicine. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):687-708.
  2. Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Strength and hypertrophy adaptations between low- vs. high-load resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(12):3508-3523.
  3. Schoenfeld BJ, Pope ZK, Benik FM, et al. Longer interset rest periods enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res. 2016;30(7):1805-1812.
  4. Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Orazem J, Sabol F. Effects of resistance training performed to repetition failure or non-failure on muscular strength and hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2022;11(2):202-211.

Step-by-step instructions and demonstration media are from the ExerciseDB exercise dataset.

This guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain and speak to a doctor or physiotherapist about injuries or health conditions before starting a new programme.