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Last updated February 2, 2026
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chest

Chest Fly - Lying (Cable)

Place a flat bench in the cable station. Bring the handles together over your chest in a hugging motion. Keep a slight bend in your elbows.

Quick facts

Difficulty
Moderate
Mechanic
Isolation
Force
Push
Type
Strength
Injury Risk
Moderate
Hypertrophy
High
Calorie Burn
Medium

Muscle focus

Primary and secondary muscle groups targeted by this movement.

Primary

chest

Secondary

front shoulders

Equipment & setup

What you need and how to position yourself before starting.

Equipment

cablebench

Movement pattern

Bilateral

Posture

Lying

Tracking parameters

repsweight

Step-by-step instructions

Follow these cues to master proper technique and stay safe through every rep.

  1. Step 1Setup
    • Lie down on a flat bench with your feet flat on the ground.
    • Position the cable pulleys at the lowest setting on both sides of the bench.
  2. Step 2Grab the Cables
    • Reach up and grab the handles of the cables with your palms facing each other.
    • Ensure that your arms are fully extended above your chest, with a slight bend in your elbows.
  3. Step 3Position Your Body
    • Lie back on the bench, keeping your shoulder blades retracted and your core engaged.
    • Your head, shoulders, and buttocks should remain in contact with the bench throughout the movement.
  4. Step 4Open Your Arms
    • Slowly lower your arms out to the sides in a wide arc, maintaining a slight bend in your elbows.
    • Lower your arms until you feel a stretch in your chest, but do not go too far to avoid shoulder strain.
  5. Step 5Bring Your Arms Together
    • Engage your chest muscles and bring the handles back together above your chest in a controlled manner.
    • Focus on squeezing your chest muscles as you bring your arms back to the starting position.
  6. Step 6Repeat
    • Repeat the open and close movement for the desired number of repetitions.
    • Maintain proper form and control throughout each repetition.
  7. Step 7Finish the Exercise
    • After completing your reps, carefully lower the handles back to the starting position.
    • Sit up and safely put down the cable handles before standing up.
Version 1 · Created November 12, 2025