Shotgun Row
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a cable machine.
Starting position
End position
How to Do Shotgun Row
- Attach a single handle to a low cable.
- After selecting the correct weight, stand a couple feet back with a wide-split stance. Your arm should be extended and your shoulder forward. This will be your starting position.
- Perform the movement by retracting the shoulder and flexing the elbow. As you pull, supinate the wrist, turning the palm upward as you go.
- After a brief pause, return to the starting position.
Muscles Worked
Alternatives to Shotgun Row
10 movements that train the same primary muscle, closest substitutes first — same kind of training, then variations of the movement itself, then a similar difficulty.
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1
Bent Over Barbell Row
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a barbell.
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2
Bent Over One-Arm Long Bar Row
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a barbell.
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3
Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using dumbbells.
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4
Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row With Palms In
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using dumbbells.
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5
Dumbbell Incline Row
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using dumbbells.
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6
Inverted Row with Straps
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back.
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7
Leverage Iso Row
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a machine.
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8
Lying Cambered Barbell Row
A beginner isolation strength exercise that works the upper back, using a barbell.
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9
One-Arm Dumbbell Row
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using dumbbells.
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10
One-Arm Long Bar Row
A beginner compound strength exercise that works the upper back, using a barbell.
Frequently Asked Questions
What muscles do shotgun row work?
Shotgun Row primarily works the upper back. The biceps assist as secondary muscles.
What equipment do I need for shotgun row?
Shotgun Row uses cable machine.
Shotgun Row: is it suitable for beginners?
Yes. Shotgun Row is rated beginner. Movements you can learn in a session, with a low skill floor and a forgiving failure mode.
What can I do instead of shotgun row?
Bent Over Barbell Row, Bent Over One-Arm Long Bar Row, Bent Over Two-Dumbbell Row train the same primary muscles and are listed with 7 more alternatives above.
Can Fitnit count my shotgun row reps automatically?
Not automatically yet. Fitnit's AI rep counting covers push-ups, squats, dumbbell curls, crunches and pull-ups today; shotgun row can be logged manually in the app, and tracked movements are added over time.
Photographs and step-by-step instructions from free-exercise-db, a public-domain exercise dataset. Muscle mapping and alternatives by Fitnit.
Track Your Shotgun Row with AI
Fitnit automatically tracks push-ups, crunches, squats, pull-ups, and curls with advanced body tracking technology — and you can manually input any other workout too. Start free — Pro is $8.99/month.