what will happen if I completely emphasize the quads but not my hams?

[musc1emadness]

My overall thigh thickness is already ideal, so I'm working to improve the "mirror" muscles like quads. Will it be ok to skip any ham-focused exercises and just go straight for quads? I still have compound movements in my program (E.g. RDL, squats) but just want to grow quads as huge as possible.

[TolerantLactose]

Will it be ok to skip any ham-focused exercises and just go straight for quads?

I still have compound movements in my program (E.g. RDL

You have no idea what you're doing.

[EliKoehn]

RDL is a hamstring-oriented exercise, so if you're doing that then your hamstrings are being targeted. Either way, it's not a good idea to neglect holistic training, with the exception of a temporary specialization assuming you're well into intermediate territory. Why do you want to skip out on hamstrings and how do you think that will benefit you?

[BeginnerGainz]

Eh, no.

What are you doing for quads?

[paulinkansas]

You're going to look funny and people will laugh at you behind your back. I've seen this happen before.

[faithbrah]

You're going to look funny and people will laugh at you behind your back. I've seen this happen before.

or behind his hammies...

until he turns around

[air2fakie]

It's musc1e madness I tell you, for the love of god, don't do it!

[EliKoehn]

You're going to look funny and people will laugh at you behind your back. I've seen this happen before.

Actually, in all seriousness, I think this muscle imbalance in particular tends to result in injury.

[air2fakie]

Actually, in all seriousness, I think this muscle imbalance in particular tends to result in injury.

What injury?

[EliKoehn]

What injury?

Admittedly, this is anecdotal, but I've witnessed multiple people blow out their knees who only routinely neglect hamstring work. Typically they're heavy squatters who dislike deadlifting, or deadlift as though it's a squat, and don't do any hamstring isolation.

I'm a bit foggy-minded right now so might have this wrong, but I recall reading a point Nuckols was making about this, as well. Something about the brace or stabilization of the knee joint during powerful quad recruitment being a key function of the hamstrings, particularly in a squat.

[air2fakie]

Admittedly, this is anecdotal, but I've witnessed multiple people blow out their knees who only routinely neglect hamstring work. Typically they're heavy squatters who dislike deadlifting, or deadlift as though it's a squat, and don't do any hamstring isolation.

I'm a bit foggy-minded right now so might have this wrong, but I recall reading a point Nuckols was making about this, as well. Something about the brace or stabilization of the knee joint during powerful quad recruitment being a key function of the hamstrings, particularly in a squat.

Got it, I definitely think it can lead to injury. But isn't necessarily going to, depending on what one does... so was just curious what your thoughts were.

Personally I think it's somewhat hard to have the consistency & dedication to build huge quads without incidentally building pretty strong hamstrings too.

[BeginnerGainz]

Got it, I definitely think it can lead to injury. But isn't necessarily going to, depending on what one does... so was just curious what your thoughts were.

Personally I think it's somewhat hard to have the consistency & dedication to build huge quads without incidentally building pretty strong hamstrings too.

I believe there was a study done a loooong time ago where they took runners, had them do leg curls as well as a control group who didn’t, and then they studied what group had the most hamstring strains. The group who did leg curls had way less.

Take that “leg curls aren’t functional” asshats!