My new favorite leg exercise

[Megiddo]

Damn I love doing front squats. My legs are still burning from yesterday and hey my knee is feeling all right. That and i got a great pump as well.

[Severedties]

I just started doing them again as well, they are hard as hell.

[Stonecold54]

does it feel that much different than a hack squat? where is most of the muscular tension focused?

[Severedties]

There is greater emphasis on your quads than with a hack squat. However, i have only done a hack squat machine, not a free weight hacksquat, so that is what i am referring to. Also, there appears to be more stress on your lower back with front squats than with hack squats, so it is sort of a trade off.

[Stonecold54]

Originally posted by Titan
There is greater emphasis on your quads than with a hack squat. However, i have only done a hack squat machine, not a free weight hacksquat, so that is what i am referring to. Also, there appears to be more stress on your lower back with front squats than with hack squats, so it is sort of a trade off.

I don't think there is such a thing as a free weight hack squat. I find that they do the same thing as front squats but as you point out there is no lower back involvement so it is better for me.

[Severedties]

A free weight hack squat is where you pick up the weight off the ground with your hands behind you, and then proceed to squat. It is like a reverse deadlift of sorts.

[Stonecold54]

Originally posted by Titan
A free weight hack squat is where you pick up the weight off the ground with your hands behind you, and then proceed to squat. It is like a reverse deadlift of sorts.

that sounds like too much work. LOL

[Megiddo]

I use hacks as a finishing exercise for my quads before I jump into hamstrings. Oh and my hack squats are done one legged.

With front squats the emphasise is placed on the quads directly instead of the entire upper leg distributing the weight. Being that I am 6'2 I don't get a good pump and burn with regular squats as I do with fronts. the downside of fronts is that you can't go as heavy with the weight due to having to stabilize it on your upper chest/front delts and if you have a weak lower back even less weight is needed. If you are a tall person though, these will definatley help get some mass as comapred to regualr squats.

[tireflipper]

I find that front squats hurt my shoulders for some reason. I like doing zercher squats with a 2" bar. They can really destroy the quads.

[chuckz28]

I would have to say that NO leg exercize is my favorite. :D I dread leg days but gotta do them. If I had to pick a favorite though it would probably be either lunges or leg press.