Stand facing a cable stack machine and hold a straight handle overhead with a grip outside shoulder width. Keeping the trunk braced and the arms straight, bring the bar down into contact with the front of the body, then return to the top under control.
 
Purpose
The straight-arm pulldown strengthens the lats without involving the biceps, delts and upper back like most row, pulldown and other upper body pulling exercises. This is essentially the cable version of the pullover.
 
Programming
Generally sets of 10-15 are appropriate.
 
Variations
The straight-arm pulldown can be done with any grip width, a neutral grip, with rope handles or fat grips, with a supinated grip, and with one arm. Pulldowns can also be done with a band.