Incline Press (Cable)
The Incline Cable Press is a compound chest exercise performed on an angled bench using a cable crossover machine to maintain constant tension. It primarily targets the upper pectoral muscles while engaging the shoulders and triceps through a converging range of motion.
The upper chest is easily fatigued and often overshadowed by dominant front deltoids, making data-driven coaching essential for this lift. By analyzing your recent push volume and recovery metrics (HRV and sleep), the AI determines the precise load and RPE target to ensure you stimulate the pectorals without overstraining the shoulder joint. If previous sessions indicate shoulder discomfort or stalled progress, the system can instantly suggest neutral-grip alternatives or adjust the volume to match your current recovery status.
Form Cues
- Set the bench angle between 30 and 45 degrees
- Keep your shoulder blades retracted and depressed against the bench
- Drive the handles upward and inward in a converging arc
- Squeeze your upper chest muscles hard at the peak of the movement
- Control the cables slowly on the way down to maximize muscle tension
- Don't let your shoulders roll forward at the top of the press
- Don't flare your elbows out excessively wide
- Don't rush the lowering phase or let the weight stack slam
- Don't press straight up; ensure your hands come together for a peak contraction
Common Mistakes
- Setting the bench angle too steep (over 45 degrees)
- Allowing shoulders to round forward
- Flaring elbows too wide
- Rushing the eccentric (lowering) phase
- Not bringing hands together at the top
Muscles Worked
This movement specifically isolates the clavicular head of the pectoralis major (upper chest), helping to fill in the upper region of the torso. It recruits the anterior deltoids and triceps as secondary movers, while the cable machine provides constant tension on the muscle fibers throughout the entire range of motion, unlike dumbbells where tension drops at the top.
Primary
Secondary
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