leg press vs. squats

[SloppyJo]

hit legs today... i usually switch every week between leg press and squats but i was wonderin which one is better.. im prob gonna stick to my routine but i would rather do leg press

[iridiumblue]

I'm not sure about leg presses but I know that squats hit at least 16 different muscles in LB. I don't see where switching around every other week is a big issue. Why not do them both? I usually have a leg only day where I do squats wide stance, presses, lunges, calf raises, dead lifts, and leg curls 4 sets of each. Just MO.

[Stonecold54]

Originally posted by SloppyJo
hit legs today... i usually switch every week between leg press and squats but i was wonderin which one is better.. im prob gonna stick to my routine but i would rather do leg press

there is no "better" to a point....you should use what feels and works well. For me I can't do regular squats much because my lower back tires to quickly. So mostly i use a leg press and smith squats because my quads absolutley burn on them. So #1 is to pick exercises that afford you a really good contraction... and #2 is that your routine should stay a bit consitent to make sure you can track your progress. I like to do at least 6 weeks of a movement and then change it up...gives you time to make sure you are progressing but not to the point where you tire of the movement.

[Mommie2Hottie]

I also worked legs today. I started out with squats on the smith machine with a wide stance. It's great for hitting quads, glutes, hams, lower backall at once. Then I move to the leg press with my feet at shoulder width. This really pushes and isolates my quads more. I love legs. They are my favorite work out!!!

[SloppyJo]

there is no "better" to a point....you should use what feels and works well. For me I can't do regular squats much because my lower back tires to quickly. So mostly i use a leg press and smith squats because my quads absolutley burn on them. So #1 is to pick exercises that afford you a really good contraction... and #2 is that your routine should stay a bit consitent to make sure you can track your progress. I like to do at least 6 weeks of a movement and then change it up...gives you time to make sure you are progressing but not to the point where you tire of the movement.

ok thanks sc... thats what i was wonderin.. i feel it a lot more on leg press, i have knee problems from basketball so i cant really go all the way done on squats.. i keep my routines constant, i have two and i alternate between the two

[BBAddict]

It's definitely easier to go heavy on leg presses w/o worrying about hurting yourself, but I think squats are important too. I think it's safe to say that if you're not feeling something from heavy squats then you're doing something wrong. IMO, both exercises are great and important to building solid wheels.

[beefcake]

I do both. Squats first, and then leg press afterwards.

[BBAddict]

Originally posted by beefcake
I do both. Squats first, and then leg press afterwards.

If I'm doing squats that week, which I do almost every week, I always do them first. I prefer to be fresh to maximize the effectiveness of the squats. I sometimes do squats and then superset leg presses and leg extensions.

[Stonecold54]

Originally posted by BBAddict
It's definitely easier to go heavy on leg presses w/o worrying about hurting yourself, but I think squats are important too. I think it's safe to say that if you're not feeling something from heavy squats then you're doing something wrong. IMO, both exercises are great and important to building solid wheels.

squatting just like benching is a movement that is for people "Built" for it. Sometimes people fit the movement sometimes they don't.

[njlovehandles]

SHUT UP AND SQUAT! ok stupid and cliche., but squats are the shit. If they bother you I say throw your ego away, and start with the bar. If that doesnt hurt, put some more weight on. Gauruntee you will love em in a few months (but hate them just as much). I personally do squats and leg press on leg day, alterniating wich comes first every week.

[beefcake]

Originally posted by stonecold54
squatting just like benching is a movement that is for people "Built" for it. Sometimes people fit the movement sometimes they don't.

How do feel about substituting hacks in for those who can't do the squats?

[sekcbeast]

Originally posted by beefcake
How do feel about substituting hacks in for those who can't do the squats?

I also want to know what everyone thinks about hacks. Personally, I feel that I get a much better workout with hacks. It seems like I can concentrate more on the form of my rep, rather than just getting the weight up.

[SloppyJo]

Originally posted by sekcbeast
I also want to know what everyone thinks about hacks. Personally, I feel that I get a much better workout with hacks. It seems like I can concentrate more on the form of my rep, rather than just getting the weight up.

thats how i feel about it... another of the reasons id rather do leg press and hacks cuz u can concentrate on the movement and contraction instead of if your gonna drop a ton a weight

[imonboardtoo]

I don't feel that much difference in form between hacks and standard squats, but I do think in my mind I'm less worried about injury on the hack. When I'm lifting a heavy squat I'm always worrying about my back, but on the hack I don't.

Could just be me.

[ROCKETW19]

i always use the smith for squats much eayser on my lower back and i feel safe so i dont cheat. i also think you guys are starting to heavy like someone else said throw your ego out do the exercise the right way. im a pretty big guy and i only do 315 for 10-12 reps but i do them correct it dosnt bother me that someone else can do the same or more. i think thats most of your squat problems. i also folow with leg presses and extensions.

[deadit]

Do what feels best for you but with that said I also see a lot of guys who go with the smith squats and leg presses to avoid free squats. I feel that the smith squats and the leg presses have there place as change of routine exercises.If your goal is to get your legs as big and strong is possible then there is no substitute for the free squat but if your lookin to tone and shape then the leg press is fine.

[beefcake]

Originally posted by deadit
but if your lookin to tone and shape then the leg press is fine.

Nothing overloads the quads quite like leg presses. I find it hard to believe that lifting 900lbs on the leg press is only good for toning and shaping. Leg press is good for releasing test and gh as well. Like I said earlier, best to use both for superior quad development.

[Primal Instinct]

My question is how come we can become nauseated when doing a particularly heavy and intense leg workout? Why does it seem to be just legs and not other bodyparts that this happens?

[beefcake]

Originally posted by Primal Instinct
My question is how come we can become nauseated when doing a particularly heavy and intense leg workout? Why does it seem to be just legs and not other bodyparts that this happens?

I notice it's mostly compound movements that get me sick. Like squats and deads. No idea why though.

[Primal Instinct]

That 's what I meant- squats mostly. Is it just because of overall strain on the core with the addition of vertical movement? I've gotten nauseated on occasion and can't pinpoint why exactly it happens. Empty or full stomach- it doesn't matter.

[BadGenCD]

This one is rather simple, didn't read all above pts so excuse me if I repeat. Squats are free motion so = more muscle fiber recruitment = more growth. But, that being said, leg press is very effective too and both should be used in any good leg routine.

[iceberg]

Squats first unless problems with knees or back as you mentioned, so stick with presses, but do some lighter squats as you feel you can handle them.

Try front squats. you have to use a lot less weight and they take a little getting use to, but they are a great variation.

ICEberg

[psychojr36]

i loved doing squats till i blew out my knee about 3 years ago. now i have to stick with the leg press because my knee just cnt handle the preasure on squats weather it is one plate or four. but for some reason teh leg press does not effect my knee at all

[Stonecold54]

Originally Posted by BadGenCD

This one is rather simple, didn't read all above pts so excuse me if I repeat. Squats are free motion so = more muscle fiber recruitment = more growth. But, that being said, leg press is very effective too and both should be used in any good leg routine.

that isn't completely true....free weight motions use straight line resistance (gravity). That means the top 20-30 degrees you are using bone support and hardly any muscle to move the weight. Just think of the weight you could do on partial reps in the top 1/3 part of the squat motion. Now compare that to how much you can only handle with full squats because the bottom portion is the only part where there is a direct resistance and as you get higher in the movement it decreases as you go but you are still limited to the weight you can handle at the bottom part of the squat. That is why a hammer strength or a comparable machine is much better than free weights. The cams built into the machine change the resistance in accordance to the specific part of the ROM. Accurate Variable resistance is one of the most important requirments in training.