Cable exercises provide a versatile and challenging workout with a wide range of exercises that target different muscle groups. They have become popular in recent years due to their effectiveness to strengthen the core body. 

Let us look at the list of 20 best cable exercises to aid you develop a stronger core. These exercises will engage your abs, obliques, and lower back, helping you achieve a more stable and powerful core.

1. Cable Crunch

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The Cable Crunch is first on our list of highly effective cable exercise that targets the core muscles. By attaching a cable to a high pulley and kneeling in front of it, the exercise involves flexing the spine and contracting the abs to bring the elbows towards the knees.

This movement activates the rectus abdominis, obliques, and deep core muscles. This makes it an excellent exercise for strengthening and engaging the entire core region.

2. Woodchopper

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The Woodchopper, despite its peculiar name, is an effective cable exercise that targets multiple muscle groups. This exercise mainly focuses on the core and obliques, strengthening them while promoting stability and balance.

By mimicking the motion of swinging an axe, the Woodchopper engages the entire body, including the arms, shoulders, and legs. It enhances rotational power, improves posture, and aids in developing functional strength for everyday activities.

3. Cable Russian Twists

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Despite its difficulty, the Cable Russian Twists is excellent for strengthening the shoulders. This challenging exercise involves rotating the torso while holding onto a cable machine.

The rotational movement engages the muscles in the shoulder girdle, including the deltoids and rotator cuff muscles. By consistently performing this exercise, individuals can improve shoulder stability and enhance overall upper-body strength.

4. Cable Pallof Press

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The Cable Pallof Press ranks high among the best cable exercises due to its effectiveness in targeting the core muscles. By resisting rotational forces, it strengthens the obliques, transverse abdominis, and spinal stabilizers, promoting better posture and reducing the risk of back injuries.

Additionally, it engages the upper body, including the shoulders and chest, making it a versatile and efficient exercise for overall strength and stability.

5. Hanging Leg Raise

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The Hanging Leg Raise is regarded as one of the best leg cable exercises due to its effectiveness in targeting the lower abdominal muscles, hip flexors, and lower back.

This exercise engages multiple muscle groups simultaneously since we hang from a bar and lift the legs straight up. It helps to build core strength, improve stability, and enhance overall lower body strength and control.

6. Cable Oblique Twist

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The Cable Oblique Twist is one of the best rear delt cable exercises because it specifically targets the rear delts, helping to strengthen and develop this muscle group. It also engages the obliques, providing additional core stability and enhancing overall strength.

Though similar to the aforementioned woodchopper, this exercise has the cable perpendicular to the body, while the woodchopper needs the cable at a higher position.

7. Cable Reverse Woodchopper

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Speaking of woodchoppers, the Cable Reverse Woodchopper is also an excellent exercise that targets the core muscles effectively. Unlike the regular woodchopper, this variation involves pulling the cable from a low position across the body and up towards the opposite shoulder.

This movement engages the obliques, glutes, and shoulders, improving stability and rotational strength. It also activates the back and leg muscles, making it a comprehensive exercise for full-body coordination and power.

8. Cable Bicycle Crunch

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The Cable Bicycle Crunch may appear challenging due to its complex movement pattern and the resistance provided by the cable machine. However, it is a highly effective exercise that targets multiple muscle groups, like the abs, obliques, and hip flexors.

The cable resistance adds an extra level of difficulty, aiding to strengthen and tone the core muscles more efficiently. This makes it a worthwhile exercise to incorporate into your routine.

9. Cable Plank Row

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The Cable Plank Row is a challenging but highly effective glute exercise because it targets multiple muscle groups simultaneously. By combining the stability and core engagement of a plank with the rowing motion, it engages the glutes, core, back, and arms.

This exercise improves overall strength, stability, and posture while also targeting and toning the glute muscles for a sculpted and lifted appearance.

10. Standing Cable Rotation

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The Standing Cable Rotation exercise is truly amazing due to its versatility and numerous variations. It can be performed with different cable attachments, such as ropes, handles, or bars. It allows for various grip positions and angles.

Additionally, the exercise can be modified by adjusting the height of the cable, incorporating unilateral or bilateral movements, or adding dynamic movements like lunges or squats.

11. Cable Side Plank

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Cable Side Plank is a more challenging cable exercise than the Cable Plank Row due to its focus on stability and core strength. While the Cable Plank Row mainly targets the upper body, Cable Side Plank engages the entire core, including the obliques.

This workout requires balance and control, making it more rewarding as it enhances overall core strength and improves stability, ultimately leading to better posture and functional movement.

12. Cable Dead Bug

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The Cable Dead Bug is an exercise that targets the core muscles and improves stability. To perform it, attach a cable handle to a low pulley, lie on your back, and extend your arms and legs.

Now, simultaneously bring one knee towards your chest while pulling the opposite arm overhead. This exercise is effective as it engages the deep abdominal muscles, strengthens the core, and enhances coordination and balance.

 

13. Cable Torso Twist

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Cable Torso Twist is especially an excellent back cable exercise due to its ability to target multiple muscle groups simultaneously. By using the cable machine, it provides constant resistance throughout the movement, engaging the back muscles effectively.

This exercise also helps improve core stability and rotational strength, making it a great option for overall back development and functional fitness.

14. Cable Seated Leg Raise

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Cable Seated Leg Raise is an effective exercise that mainly targets the legs but also works great for the core muscles. You can perform leg raises against resistance by sitting on a bench and attaching ankle cuffs to a cable machine, 

This movement not only strengthens the quadriceps, hamstrings, and glutes but also activates the abdominal muscles, obliques, and lower back, providing a well-rounded workout for the entire core.

15. Cable Lateral Flexion

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Cable lateral flexion targets the oblique muscles on the sides of the abdomen. It involves standing sideways to a cable machine and pulling the cable down towards the hip while maintaining a straight posture.

This exercise helps to strengthen and tone the obliques, while improving core stability, posture and overall functional movement. It also enhances sports performance and reduces the risk of lower back pain and injuries.

16. Cable Pike

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The Cable Pike is another challenging exercise on our list that may seem intimidating at first, but its rewards are worth the effort. This exercise targets multiple muscle groups, including the core, shoulders, and legs.

It helps improve strength, stability, and flexibility. By consistently practicing the Cable Pike, individuals can achieve better overall body control and balance. Though it may appear difficult, the benefits it offers make it a highly rewarding exercise.

17. Cable Bird Dog

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The Cable Bird Dog is a versatile bicep cable exercise that also targets the core and glutes while engaging the biceps. By performing the exercise, where you extend opposite arm and leg while maintaining a neutral spine, the biceps are activated as they work to stabilize the arm holding the cable.

This adds an extra challenge to the exercise, making it a great option for strengthening the biceps along with other muscle groups.

18. Cable Standing Knee Crunch

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The Cable Standing Knee Crunch stands out among cable exercises due to its focus on core stability and strength. By targeting the abdominal muscles and engaging the lower body through knee flexion, it provides a dynamic and functional movement.

This exercise also incorporates the use of a cable machine, allowing for adjustable resistance and customizable workouts to suit individual needs and fitness levels.

19. Cable Torso Rotation on Stability Ball

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The Cable Torso Rotation on Stability Ball may have a complex name, but it is an excellent cable exercise for the core. This exercise involves using a stability ball while rotating the torso with the resistance provided by the cable.

It targets the obliques, abdominals, and lower back muscles, helping to improve core strength, stability, and overall posture.

20. Cable Kneeling Chop

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Cable Kneeling Chop is an excellent tricep cable exercise as it targets the tricep muscles effectively, helping to build strength and definition.

Additionally, this exercise also engages the core muscles, making it a great choice for overall core stability and strength. The kneeling position adds an element of balance and stability, further challenging the core muscles and enhancing their development.