Ab Wheel Rollout

The hardest common anti-extension drill: the trunk resists the spine arching as the arms travel away. Low reps of 5-8 with strict range beats a long sloppy set.

DIFFICULTY
Advanced
EQUIPMENT
Ab wheel · Mat
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Abs · Transverse Abdominis
ALSO WORKS
Obliques · Lats · Serratus Anterior · Hip Flexors
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Kneel on a mat with the wheel under the shoulders and the hands on the handles.
  2. 02Tuck the pelvis slightly and brace the trunk hard.
  3. 03Roll the wheel forward only as far as the ribs can stay down.
  4. 04Pause for a beat at the end of your controlled range.
  5. 05Pull back with the trunk and lats to return to the start.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01Ribs down, tail tucked.
  2. 02Stop before the back sags.
  3. 03Squeeze the glutes the whole way out.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Rolling out further than you can control — the lower back arches and the spine, not the trunk, takes the load.
  2. 02Letting the hips pike back on the return — the hip flexors do the work and the abs get skipped.
  3. 03Holding the breath — the brace collapses halfway out and the position is lost at the worst moment.

Note: Reference material, not a prescription. Load, volume and whether this movement suits you at all depends on your assessment — if something hurts, stop and get it looked at.

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