For golf
For golf, cable woodchop rates well ahead on our research criteria: more carry-over to golf.
Side plank does more to prevent injuries.
Both are good choices that build different things for golf, so a plan can use both.
The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work
Cable Woodchop. Loaded rotation through the same diagonal as the swing.
For your abs, cable woodchop rates well ahead on our research criteria: more stretch, easier to progress.
For golf, cable woodchop rates well ahead on our research criteria: more carry-over to golf. Side plank does more to prevent injuries. Both are good choices that build different things for golf, so a plan can use both.
About the same: both are easy to learn.
Cable woodchop needs a cable station, so for most people it’s a gym exercise. Side plank needs no equipment, so you can do it anywhere.
Side plank: it rates Strong for injury protection in our research rubric, against Good for cable woodchop.