Abs vs. hip flexors. strengthen hip flexors first?

[hockeyplaya13]

Would it be wise to just keep doing hanging leg raises even though I feel it in my hip flexors a ton? Could it be that the hip flexors are just holding my abs back, and that if I keep doing them they will catch up and then I will be able to feel it in my lower abs? I was thinking this because often with newbs and benching, the tri's are weaker than the chest so they feel it more in the tri's until the tri's catch up in strength, at which point the chest can be worked more. Are hip flexors and abs the same way? If not, is there any way I can do hanging leg raises, hanging knee-ups, or laying leg raises without engaging the hip flexors?

[-Lucifer]

I think it's the other way around - your hip flexors are stronger than your abs. So, the stronger muscle dominates the weaker muscle and takes over.

I hope I'm right.

[CPX]

How far are you raising your legs? Struggling to raise my legs higher really hits my abs (even if it's just an inch higher). But if your feet are already touching the bar I guess you're already getting as much out as you can...

[hockeyplaya13]

Well when I do hanging leg raises, I bring my legs perpendicular to my body, and when I do knee raises I bring my upper thighs slightly above perpendicular.

[esoterik]

If you really want to find out which is weaker, go knock out a set of back squats. Evaluate form.