10 Cable Crossover Alternatives (Substitute Chest Exercises)

Top 10 Cable Crossover Alternatives 

Our list of cable crossover alternative exercises will allow you to work your pectoral muscles at home. Some of the exercises will require resistance bands, a few dumbbells, and a flat bench. The expenses of investing in these few pieces of equipment, though, ought to be a lot less than the cost of a cable crossover machine. 

1. Flat Dumbbell Fly 

The most popular cable crossover substitute with bodybuilders is the standard dumbbell fly on a flat exercise bench. They usually favor the dumbbell fly exercise because it isolates the pectoral muscles with the body supported on a flat bench. 

2. Incline Dumbbell Fly 

Another great alternative to the cable cross exercise that isolates your pectoral muscles is the incline dumbbell fly. The incline dumbbell fly might seem like a slight change to the setup from the flat bench fly, but you will feel the strain on your pectoral muscles and shoulders in a different way, with a heavier focus on the top part of the pecs.

3. Resistance Band Crossover 

The resistance band crossover is the closest exercise to the standard cable machine. Therefore, the concept and setup of the resistance band crossover are very similar to the cable crossover. 

Required Equipment - 8 Best Resistance Bands For Home Gyms

4. Chest Dips 

There are various sizes of dip machines, which can be quite expensive. However, a few parallel bars will prove to be more than enough in order to shape your arms, shoulders, and pectoral muscles. In addition, you should be careful and make sure that you approach the exercise in the right way. 

Learn More - Push Ups Vs Dips For Chest

5. One-Arm Dumbbell Bench Press 

The one-arm dumbbell bench press is another excellent alternative to the cable crossover machine. The exercise isolates one arm, the shoulder, and the chest area. To perform the one-arm dumbbell bench press, you will need a flat bench and a few dumbbells in your home gym. 

Required Equipment - Best Affordable Adjustable Dumbbells 

6. Resistance Band Rows 

Resistance bands are great for building muscle. The resistance band row is an excellent alternative to the cable crossover because it trains everything from the chest to the shoulders and upper back muscles. It is a complete pectoral and chest workout that helps you to achieve the same results with only a set of resistance bands as you would by using the cable crossover machine. 

Read Also - Do Resistance Bands Build Muscle?

7. TRX Chest Fly 

The TRX chest fly is another highly effective cable crossover alternative that only requires the TRX suspension trainer. 

8. Resistance Band Pull Apart 

You will need a looped resistance band to do the resistance band pull apart. A looped resistance band will make it easier for you to wrap the wrists and focus the workout on your chest muscles. 

9. Banded Wide Push Ups 

If you use the same looped resistance band from the previous exercise (Resistance Band Pull Apart), then you can bring some more excitement to the push-up exercise. It is an excellent alternative for the home gym, especially when you are able to develop enough strength to perform 20 or 30 push-ups. 

You will gain more pectoral muscles by doing fewer repetitions that are more challenging rather than constantly increasing the number of repetitions. 

10. Svend Press 

The last, but not least of all the cable crossover alternatives is called the Svend Press. All you will need are two weight plates to hold and press together with your hands from both sides. 

Further Reading - How Many Weight Plates Do I Need At Home?

People Also Ask (FAQs)

How do you do a cable crossover for the lower chest?

A crossover exercise targets both of the heads of the pectoral muscles. The upper head, also known as the clavicular, will be worked with the conventional position. The minor down angle will work the lower pectoral, also known as the sternal head. 

The 10 alternative exercises listed above will target both heads, and you can adjust them to target one head or the other. It is all about how you perform the exercises and which exercises that you decide to include in your workout. Cable crossovers can target the lower pectoral muscles, but it will depend on the technique. If you move the hands down or towards the middle of your body, you will hit the lower pectoral muscles. 

What muscles will crossovers target? 

You will be able to trigger a wide range of muscle groups by using a cable crossover machine, but it all depends on how you set up the machine. Exercises that work the arms will mostly trigger the muscles in your chests. You will find it relatively easy to completely engage your core in almost every type of movement when you start a chest workout. 

You will find that you will be able to easily activate your shoulders and upper back muscles, depending on the movement that you choose and the position of your body. One of the greatest benefits of the cable crossover is that you use many of these muscle groups simultaneously. 

Are crossovers without a machine still effective? 

If you use free weights and resistance bands in the right way, then they can be an excellent alternative to a cable crossover machine, which is an expensive piece of equipment. 

The most important aspect of any workout is that you perform the exercise correctly. If you perform the exercise in a slow, controlled manner, then it will burn after 8 to 10 repetitions. 

Conclusion

We understand that not every person has the money to build a fully equipped home gym that includes a cable crossover machine. However, many alternatives to cable crossovers, like we have listed above, require little to no equipment. 

If you want to effectively build your muscles without spending a lot of money, then it is worth investing in a pair of good quality resistance bands, a few dumbbells, and even a TRX system. The workout possibilities are endless once you have the right equipment.