Barbell Front Squat
oec:barbell-front-squat
A barbell squat variation where the weight rests across the anterior deltoids, emphasizing the quadriceps and upper back strength.
Generated by gemini-3.8-flash from the sources below. No person has checked this record. Don't rely on it for safety.
Also called: Front Squat, Front Squats
How to do it
Setup
- Set the barbell in a rack at approximately mid-chest height.
- Step up to the bar and secure a front rack position, resting the bar across the front of the shoulders and clavicles with elbows driven high forward.
- Support the bar lightly with two to three fingers or a full clean grip as mobility allows.
- Unrack the bar, take two steps back, and set feet roughly shoulder-width apart with toes turned slightly outward.
Movement
- Inhale deeply into the abdomen, brace the core, and keep the chest and elbows elevated.
- Descend by bending at the knees and hips simultaneously, sitting straight down between the heels while keeping the torso upright.
- Continue descending until the hip crease dips below the top of the knees.
- Drive forcefully through the mid-foot to stand, actively pressing the elbows up to keep the bar from rolling forward.
- Complete the repetition by extending hips and knees fully at the top.
Breathing
Inhale and brace intra-abdominal pressure before descending, hold through the sticking point, and exhale near the top of the repetition.
Cues
- Elbows up
- Chest tall
- Sit between your knees
Common faults
- Dropping the elbows during descent, causing the bar to roll forward off the shoulders.
- Focus on driving the elbows toward the ceiling throughout the entire repetition, especially out of the hole.
- Excessive forward torso lean shifting the load into the lower back.
- Stay more upright by pushing knees forward over toes and sitting straight down rather than hinging hips far back.
- Heels lifting off the floor during deep knee flexion.
- Improve ankle dorsiflexion mobility, wear weightlifting shoes, or widen the stance slightly with toes turned out.
Safety
- If balance or the rack position is lost, dump the bar forward away from the body onto safety pins or rubber flooring; never try to catch it with wrists or knees.
Muscles
Joints
- Hip: Flexion, Extension
- Knee: Flexion, Extension
- Ankle: Dorsiflexion, Plantarflexion
- Thoracic spine: Isometric stabilization
- Lumbar spine: Isometric stabilization
Details
- Movement
- Squat
- Modality
- Strength, Hypertrophy, Olympic weightlifting
- Mechanics
- compound
- Force
- push
- Laterality
- bilateral
- Kinetic chain
- closed
- Level
- intermediate
- Equipment
- Barbell; Squat rack or Power rack
- Record
- Repetitions and Load
- Load
- external, total
Related
- variation of Barbell Back Squat
- substitute for Barbell Back Squat
- progression of Dumbbell Goblet Squat
- progression of Dumbbell Front Squat
- part of Barbell Clean
- part of Barbell Clean and Jerk
- part of Barbell Thruster
Sources
- wger: Front Squats, by sistab2 (CC-BY-SA-3.0)
This record: CC-BY-SA-4.0.