Barbell Front Squat

A front-loaded squat that forces an upright torso and punishes any loss of thoracic position. Run it in the 3-5 rep range as a primary strength lift.

DIFFICULTY
Advanced
EQUIPMENT
Barbell
PRIMARY MUSCLES
Quads · Glutes
ALSO WORKS
Lower back · Abs · Traps
HOW TO DO IT
  1. 01Set the bar in a front rack across the shoulders with the elbows high and the fingertips under the bar.
  2. 02Step back into a stance about shoulder width with the toes turned out slightly.
  3. 03Take a full breath, brace the trunk, and sit down between the hips.
  4. 04Descend until the hip crease passes below the knee without letting the elbows drop.
  5. 05Drive the floor away and stand tall, keeping the bar over midfoot the whole way.
COACHING CUES
  1. 01Elbows up through the whole rep.
  2. 02Sit down, not back.
  3. 03Push the floor away and finish tall.
COMMON MISTAKES
  1. 01Elbows dropping out of the rack — the bar rolls forward and the lift turns into a good morning you cannot recover.
  2. 02Heels lifting at the bottom — the load shifts to the toes and the knee takes force the hips should share.
  3. 03Wrists carrying the bar instead of the shoulders — wrist pain ends the set long before the legs are done.

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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