Squats

[a7fold]

hey guys,
so ive finally realized i have to start doing squats in order to get bigger and stronger...i realize squats are optimal but would leg presses be an okay substitution ? Squats hurt my back since im tall and skinny (maybe im just trying to do too much weight) but any input would be great..thanks!

[jammyo40]

If squats are hurting your back, you're most likely using poor form. Refer to the stickys in the Exercises section.

[Anzy]

If squats are hurting your back, you're most likely using poor form. Refer to the stickys in the Exercises section.

This. Learn how to do squats well...stickies might help, or the "so you think you can squat"series on youtube is also excellent. Squats aren't so praised because they work out your quads..if that was the case, everyone would be doing leg extensions and calling it a day. Squats are awesome because they work out your whole body. with emphasis on the big ones.

and tall and skinny is not a reason to not do squats..its a reason to do them more.

[rdferguson]

As the others have said, fix up your technique so that squats don't hurt your back, get the movement pattern down packed, and start getting stronger in the exercise.

Leg press is still a good leg exercise, and if you could only do one or the other, it wouldn't be completely dreadful if you did go with leg press...but for bodybuilding purposes suats + leg press > squats > leg press > neither squats nor leg press.