All Exercises

Cable One Arm Incline Fly on Exercise Ball

Sculpt your upper chest with the Cable One Arm Incline Fly on an exercise ball. This exercise isolates the clavicular head of the pectoralis major for

Advanced
Isolation
Push
2 min per set1 min rest

Description

This is an upper body resistance exercise that primarily targets the chest. It is performed using a cable machine and an exercise ball, and works one arm at a time while in an incline position on the ball.

How to Do Cable One Arm Incline Fly on Exercise Ball

  1. 1
    Setup

    Position an exercise ball about 2-3 feet in front of a low cable pulley, ensuring the cable is set to its lowest position.

  2. 2
    Setup

    Lie back on the exercise ball with your upper back and head fully supported, allowing your hips to be slightly below your shoulders to create an incline. Plant your feet firmly on the floor, shoulder-width apart, for stability.

  3. 3
    Setup

    Grab the cable handle with one hand, palm facing forward, and extend your arm straight up over your chest, maintaining a slight bend in your elbow. Use your free hand to stabilize yourself on the ball or rest it on your hip.

  4. 4

    Inhale and slowly lower the cable handle in a wide arc out to the side until you feel a deep stretch in your chest, keeping the slight elbow bend constant throughout the movement.

  5. 5

    Exhale and powerfully pull the handle back up and across your body in the same arc, squeezing your upper chest as your hand returns to the starting position directly over your chest.

  6. 6

    Control the movement throughout, ensuring your torso remains stable on the ball without rocking. Complete all repetitions on one side before switching arms and repeating the sequence.

Tips

  • Maintain a slight, consistent bend in your elbow throughout the entire movement to keep constant tension on the chest and protect your elbow joint.
  • Focus on squeezing your upper pectoralis major at the top of the movement, imagining you are trying to touch your bicep to your sternum, to maximize muscle contraction.
  • Ensure your hips remain stable on the exercise ball; avoid any rocking or using momentum from your lower body to assist the movement.
  • Control the eccentric (lowering) phase for 2-3 seconds to enhance muscle fiber recruitment and increase time under tension on the target muscle.

Common Mistakes

  • ×Bending and straightening the elbow too much turns this into a pressing motion, which reduces the isolation on the chest; keep a consistent, slight bend in the elbow.
  • ×Using excessive weight causes the body to rock or twist off the ball, compromising stability and shifting tension away from the target muscle; reduce the weight and focus on controlled movement.
  • ×Not fully extending the arm across the body at the top of the movement limits the peak contraction; ensure your hand crosses the midline of your body to achieve a full chest squeeze.

Variations

Related Exercises

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