Any Advantages to Cable Reverse Flyes?

[absf]

Other than the fact that you can do the flyes at 45 degrees or while standing, is there any other benefit? Also, when leaning against a pec deck, you can fly at 45 degrees. Would that just make it better than the cable version entirely?

[EliKoehn]

With cables, you have a constant level of resistance provided by the weight (though the angle will be more or less advantageous throughout the range of motion of course), in contrast to freeweights which have a "strength arc" where it gets more and more difficult until an acute most difficult point, and thereafter the resistance provided by the weight diminishes. There are advantages to both, though in the case of reverse flyes, leaning forward and using dumbbells isn't going to be significantly different since the movement actually finishes out at the most difficult point anyway.

With a pec deck machine, your movement is guided along path the arms are fixed on, but for this exercise, you'll have to really focus on keeping your scapulae retracted throughout the entire range of motion or it will turn into a teres/lat compound which you don't want to be doing on that machine.

As much as I usually am a proponent of just doing big compound lifts and not worrying about isolations, rear delts are one of those that do seem to need special attention so I would definitely do some kind of rear fly, but make sure you're lifting holistically otherwise. I don't think it matters beneath an advanced level which kind of variation you do, provided that you do it correctly and with consistency and effort.

[absf]

Alright, so I should just use both movements and see which one I like more?

[air2fakie]

Alright, so I should just use both movements and see which one I like more?

Something tells me you're focused on the wrong things in your workout.

[absf]

I probably am

[Flexcellent]

Sure, just do whichever you like more, and if it gets stale you can switch to the other. They both have great rear delt activation.

[jademonkey]

I do whatever I feel like at the moment.

Usually this is at the end of a workout, while doing other little isolation. If I'm doing pec deck for chest, I just use the same machine and alternate reverse flys. If I'm doing dumbbell work, I just lean over and do flys that way. I rarely use cables cuz they take more space, are often in use by someone else, and I have to hog both cables. Often depends on the gym I happen to be in for the day, since I live on the road and gyms vary.