Tricep Pushdowns question

[JoNeS]

Ok I'm talking about the Tricep pushdowns on the multi-station cable machine using the bar that looks like a flattened extended version of the letter "w"

Anyway, I've always been under the impression that the way to do this exercise was to extend the bar down and back, in kind of a 1/4 circle type motion.

In Jay cutler's new video it shows him doing the exercise, but he is all on top of the bar, and pushing the bar straight down. Imagine him standing upright, but his arms/elbows are making a bench press type motion down twards the ground.

Is this just a variation on the angle of the exercise? Or am I doing them wrong?

 

[Illuminati]

whatever works for you bro. everybody has a different way of doing an exercise. try it out like Jay does it, and see how you like it. but, i dont think that its gonna really make a difference.

 

[rbtrout]

I do many different variations of that. When lots of weight is involved, I'm on top of it, like Jay is. Lighter weight, lots of reps, I stand up straight and keep my arms at my sides and do about 1/3 of a circle (going up a bit higher). I do pyramids 6-8-10-8-6 with that form starting heavy going lighter and then heavier again. A couple other ways I do - lower the pulley to about 1/2 way down and then do behind the head. The lower the pulley, the harder it gets. Try this one - flat bench with the pulley on the bottom and do like a french curl. I like to finish with the rope-a-dope (as we call it). Pull downs with the rope and at the bottom, curl your wrists outward and hold that position for a couple of seconds, squeezing the crap out of your tri's. You'll get one helluva pump.
You need to experiment to find out which works best for you and then stick with it. Bust up the routine once in a while so your muscles don't get used to the same old same old.

 

[blut wump]

Or, better still, do some close-grip bench work and a few skullcrushers followed by overhead barbell triceps extensions and leave the machines to those on rehab.