
Avoid These 3 Common Squat Mistakes Mistake 1: never squattingīro, don’t skip leg day. You can now either rack the bar, by walking it back in and putting it back. Your eye line should move throughout the squat as you go up and down.Ĩ – Pause slightly at the bottom of the squat, then power up.ĩ – Breathe out as you squat up, and squeeze your glutes at the top (but don’t push your hips forward).ġ0 – You’re done. Obviously, it’s not gonna bend, but pulling on it like this will help stabilize you.ħ – Keep your eyes looking forward the whole time, not up or down. Think about squatting back onto a miniature chair or onto the toilet.Ħ – Pull on the bar, as if you are trying to wrap it around your back. Your feet should wind up just wider than hip width, toes pointing a little outwards.ĥ – OK, you’re ready to squat! Take a big breath right into your belly, lift your chest (so your body doesn’t collapse forward), and break at the hips to squat back and down. Take three distinct steps: one step back, second step back to meet the first foot, and a third step to set the distance between your feet. From your stable set up position, stand up with straight legs (the bar will automatically lift, cos it’s across your back). The bar should be across the back of your shoulders, your feet should be side by side directly under your hips, with your knees bent a little.Ĥ – It’s time to walk the bar out. Position yourself in the rack (don’t lift the bar up yet). Grab the bar with your pinkie fingers on the outer knurl rings and wrap your hands around the bar. Don’t rush your set up.ģ – Walk up to the bar, making sure the knurling in the center of the bar is right on the middle of your chest. Good set up is key for performing a safe and effective squat. The bar should touch the middle of your chest.Ģ – Now set up properly. Make sure it’s the right height for you by standing in front of the bar.
#PROPER SQUAT FORM HOW TO#
Here’s how to do a barbell back squat properly (no half squats here!)ġ – Set the bar in the rack. How To Do Barbell Squats Properlyįired up to nail the best back squat you can? Show ‘em how it’s done. So that’s what we’re gonna focus on here. If you can’t hold a bar across your back, don’t have access to a rack for safety, or just don’t wanna back squat then try out some of the variations further down this article.īut if you can barbell back squat, you should. Really, the ‘squat’ is just the movement of the weighted leg bend. The great thing about squats is there are so many variations. The hamstrings, erector spinae, core muscles (including rectus abdominis and obliques), and gastrocnemius will come in to stabilize. This compound push exercise puts a ton of load through the muscles and increases workout volume like crazy.īack squats target the quadriceps, gluteus maximus, adductors, and soleus. But squats should be your go-to for hitting all the leg muscles at once. Sure, other exercises can isolate different leg muscles and help you bring up lagging body parts. Squats are the number one leg exercise for well-developed quads and hamstrings. Other names for barbell back squat: squat, back squat, powerlifting squat Which Muscles Do Barbell Back Squats Work? Main muscles worked: quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, calvesĮquipment needed: barbell and squat rack or power rackĬan also be done with: Smith machine, or variations done with sandbag, dumbbells or kettlebells What Are Barbell Squats?Įxercise type: strength, size, mass builder, muscle gain, hypertrophy Our expert tuition video and how-to guide will talk you through the perfect barbell back squat. If you are, we can’t help you.īut if you want solid quads with an impressive sweep, big hanging hamstrings, and juicy calves then you gotta get your squat game on point. Unless you’re happy to hide your tiny legs away in baggy joggers. They all know the importance of the big, solid, no-nonsense exercise we call the squat.


Every serious athlete squats: bodybuilders, powerlifters, Olympic lifters, even elite athletes from other sports.

Do you even squat bro? If you don’t squat, you can’t expect to grow a serious set of wheels.
