Favorites for Quad Training? Pendulum? Hack? Leg press?

[R3aper7]

for me the best squat hacks that exist are startrack (former flex) and atlantis - absolutely zero knee pain on both - unfortunately in Poland I can count on the fingers of one hand the gyms that have them lol - I have the NPG hack in my gym and it's not the worst, the sled is heavy like cybex but to prevent knee pain I have to put a foam roller under the upper back

The foam roller is effective? My knees ate fucked lately, im gonna try it this week.

 

[d4ve]

for me the best squat hacks that exist are startrack (former flex) and atlantis - absolutely zero knee pain on both - unfortunately in Poland I can count on the fingers of one hand the gyms that have them lol - I have the NPG hack in my gym and it's not the worst, the sled is heavy like cybex but to prevent knee pain I have to put a foam roller under the upper back

Okay I couldn’t remember if that model was Startrack or Flex…turns out they’re the same thing. I hammered that one in the mid 2000s at the 24 Hr Fitness I went to in high school. Great piece.

 

[Mufasa123]

I need to try one of these Pendulum Squats. Never had the chance yet so will be a bit more proactive in finding one.

My back squat stance is more medium these days. Hybrid between PL and OL bar and width so I get decent quad and posterior chain. On my legs I like the feel of the SSB a lot better, though it's not as good of an all around movement for my build. Nevertheless been doing it a lot lately. I have a belt squat too. Gets used for volume work as a supplement.

 

[Total1]

I need to try one of these Pendulum Squats. Never had the chance yet so will be a bit more proactive in finding one.

My back squat stance is more medium these days. Hybrid between PL and OL bar and width so I get decent quad and posterior chain. On my legs I like the feel of the SSB a lot better, though it's not as good of an all around movement for my build. Nevertheless been doing it a lot lately. I have a belt squat too. Gets used for volume work as a supplement.

Look for an EOS location in your city. They have them.

 

[dantes]

Single leg movement leg press, pendulum squat with band attached, hack squat, and belt squat. I do also smith machine squat but I have a body type which is very short torso and long limbs so barbell squat is a lot of hamstring and glute for me so when I do barbell squat it’s mainly to target these areas.

 

[richiec]

Hacks, leg press, belt squat, front squat (leg extensions for high rep wrap ups)

 

[SABAGOY]

About to pull the trigger on a Rogers Squat machine for our home gym. Really liked it when trying it out and our regular gym doesn’t have one which is a plus to own one…same with a belt squat so trying to decide which brand to go with.

 

[R3aper7]

About to pull the trigger on a Rogers Squat machine for our home gym. Really liked it when trying it out and our regular gym doesn’t have one which is a plus to own one…same with a belt squat so trying to decide which brand to go with.

We have a Roger’s squat at my gym, I forgot to mention that one in my post. Great squat machine

 

[luki7788]

The foam roller is effective? My knees ate fucked lately, im gonna try it this week.

If it wasn't helpful I wouldn't use it - game changer when it comes to avoiding knee pain

 

[Simon90]

If it wasn't helpful I wouldn't use it - game changer when it comes to avoiding knee pain

Will give this a try myself!

Now I'm thinning of it in my mind, it makes compete sense.

Thank you!

 

[massephase]

I prefer the leg press because my knees bother me on the hack squat and especially on the pendulum. I tried to change my execution several times but gave them up entirely because it will take me two weeks to get my knees feeling good again after I agitated them.

So far most of the mass on my legs has been built by squatting, but that has its own drawbacks. My rotation now is bb squat, smith squat and leg press with leg extensions afterwards.

I am genetically blessed in the quad/ adductor department though

 

[massephase]

With leg press I also do two variations: regular stance, involving more adductor and glutes and then more narrow/ low stance with less depth so as not to round the back and use the glutes, trying to isolate the quad. I treat those as two different lifts in the log book

 

[d4ve]

For anyone saying hacks hurt their knees, I can't stress enough how much it helps to put them later in the session. Meadows always preached the same, too. It's a night and day difference going into hacks with warm knees, quads, and hams and glutes - i.e. do a leg curl and pressing movement first.

That, and use a stance that actually puts tension on your quads and thereby probably requires less load. A lower foot placement may actually feel better than a higher placement just because of the weight reduction required to get full depth with control.

A reverse band can help...I actually prefer hack squatting against bands (the way bands were actually meant to be used, kind of drives me nuts how people now assume you're talking about reverse banding if you mention banding an exercise lol). When the bands are pulling you down, you're almost forced to keep your hips under you and engage your hips for stabilization, which in turn takes tension off your knees.

 

[Vanguards]

I keep mine simple.

Leg press/leg extension/Bulgarian split squat

Haven't really done traditional squats much since my spinal fusion, and having formerly torn my LCL in my knee. I prefer to stick movements that avoid direct vertical spine compression and reduce my risk of having to go back under the knife

 

[BLKGUY2006]

At my gym there is a Hammer Strength belt squat. Its excellent.

I like Hammer Strength over the Pit Shark. Idk what it is but it lights my legs up.

 

[TheOtherOne55]

For anyone saying hacks hurt their knees, I can't stress enough how much it helps to put them later in the session. Meadows always preached the same, too. It's a night and day difference going into hacks with warm knees, quads, and hams and glutes - i.e. do a leg curl and pressing movement first.

That, and use a stance that actually puts tension on your quads and thereby probably requires less load. A lower foot placement may actually feel better than a higher placement just because of the weight reduction required to get full depth with control.

A reverse band can help...I actually prefer hack squatting against bands (the way bands were actually meant to be used, kind of drives me nuts how people now assume you're talking about reverse banding if you mention banding an exercise lol). When the bands are pulling you down, you're almost forced to keep your hips under you and engage your hips for stabilization, which in turn takes tension off your knees.

100%. Hacks haaave to go later in the session because A. itll take far too long to warm up my quads. Next thing is we're 35 mins in and im just getting to work sets and B. I'd rather NOT use 8pps. I'd rather be slightly more fatigued and do 5pps.

 

[CorgisOnTren]

Hey yea, i have been doing a lot of those lately on a very nice belt squat apparatus.

What brand? I loved the elitefts one my old gym had. Took a lot of space but 100% worth it imo. Huge platform and could go to eccentric failure super safely too.

 

[romo]

What brand? I loved the elitefts one my old gym had. Took a lot of space but 100% worth it imo. Huge platform and could go to eccentric failure super safely too.

Its a Hammer strength. I'm about to go use it here in a few hours lol.

 

[pesty4077]

I started using this machine. Combined with leg presses heavy and my legs are toast. Knees feel good on it.

 

[qbkilla]

I keep mine simple.

Leg press/leg extension/Bulgarian split squat

Haven't really done traditional squats much since my spinal fusion, and having formerly torn my LCL in my knee. I prefer to stick movements that avoid direct vertical spine compression and reduce my risk of having to go back under the knife

I like this, simple is best. How many sets of each? Do you hit hams and calves after or on a different day?