Many cable machines show one number on the weight stack and feel much lighter at the handle. The reason is the pulley ratio. Here is what it means, how to find yours and how to compare weights between machines.
In short
- At 1:1 you move the full stack weight. The handle and the stack travel the same distance.
- At 2:1 the handle feels like half the stack weight, but it travels twice as far as the stack.
- Many home functional trainers use 2:1, many gym cable towers use 1:1. Look it up in the manual or measure it.
- Friction in the pulleys adds a little resistance, so real numbers differ by a few percent.
Calculator: weight at the handle
Enter the weight you pin and your machine’s ratio.
19 kg
at the handle
What the ratio describes
The ratio tells you how many centimetres the handle travels for every centimetre the weight stack rises. Extra pulleys on the stack side act like a block and tackle: the load is shared across more cable lengths.
With 2:1 the handle travels twice as far, so you only need half the force. That makes long movements possible, such as a full cable crossover or a high-to-low wood chop, without the stack hitting the top.
Stack weight and the weight you feel
Approximate force at the handle, before friction:
| Stack | at 1:1 | at 2:1 | at 4:1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kg | 10 kg | 5 kg | 2.5 kg |
| 20 kg | 20 kg | 10 kg | 5 kg |
| 40 kg | 40 kg | 20 kg | 10 kg |
| 70 kg | 70 kg | 35 kg | 17.5 kg |
How to find your machine’s ratio
- Check the manual or the sticker on the frame. Manufacturers usually state it as 1:1, 2:1 or 4:1.
- Measure it: pull the handle 20 cm and see how far the stack rises. 20 cm means 1:1, 10 cm means 2:1.
- Count the pulleys that move with the stack. A movable pulley on top of the stack is a typical sign of 2:1.
Comparing weights between machines
A number on a 2:1 machine is not the same as the same number on a 1:1 machine. 40 kg on a home trainer with 2:1 feels roughly like 20 kg on a 1:1 gym tower. Compare the weight at the handle, not the label on the stack.
The same goes for training logs: if you switch machines, divide or multiply by the ratio before you set your weight, then adjust by feel.
How DCFT handles it
In DCFT you enter your plate weight, the number of plates and the pulley ratio once. The app then plans with the weights your machine can really set and shows the plate number to pin. The fitness check measures your strength on your machine, so starting weights fit even if your ratio is unusual.
Free on the App Store for iPhone. Pro is a one-time purchase with no subscription.