Front or Back squats

[Chilliez]

Which do you prefer and why?

[coachcalande]

Which do you prefer and why?

back squats- can handle more weight

that said,

front squats do hit the quads nice...but they are far less comfortable as far as holding the bar in position. I do like them better on a smith machine.

[NorwichGrad]

BOTH.. Because the Chinese and Russians told me so.

[DuracellBunny]

Apples and oranges.

The two exercises are very different, so what you need to do is:

A) decide on what your goals are
B) decide which of the 2 exercises would most benefit your goals
C) do them

[IIISpartacusIII]

Apples and oranges.

The two exercises are very different, so what you need to do is:

A) decide on what your goals are
B) decide which of the 2 exercises would most benefit your goals
C) do them

^^^^^
This is the best possible advice.

I personally have a sweet spot for front squats and high bar back squats and both of those are consistent with my goals.

I did some front squats today and some pause reps that nearly killed me but it was a sweet near-death experience.

[Jayjoe]

I like ZERCHER squats where you hold the bar in the crook of your elbows.
It blasts the abs and also its more comfortable than the front squat.
A lot of people dont like them.

[MissHolly]

^^^^^
This is the best possible advice.

I personally have a sweet spot for front squats and high bar back squats and both of those are consistent with my goals.

I did some front squats today and some pause reps that nearly killed me but it was a sweet near-death experience.

Dat depth...and paused. You are a glutton, aren't you? Nice!

[Fishman15]

Dat depth...and paused. You are a glutton, aren't you? Nice!

I'm going to neg him and anyone else who doesn't get achy, no range of motion, grandpa knees when squatting. Especially guys who do front squats...

[MissHolly]

I'm going to neg him and anyone else who doesn't get achy, no range of motion, grandpa knees when squatting. Especially guys who do front squats...

I'm jelly of the depth, too, Fishman. But I chose to use positivity as my outlet instead of wishing death upon him.

One day, Fish...one day it will be our turn to ATG squat.

[kimm4]

Front squats my go to quad exercise.

Other squat variations for everything else.

[RT1957]

I do both...I have a back squat day and I do Front squats after deadz........they both offer so much why pick just one if you can find room in your program for both and get the benefits of both....

[EjnarKolinkar]

I like fronts better. I don't have a good reason OP. I try to do both though, although the russians and the chinese had nothing to do with it in my case.

[chriswatton66]

I now do both in my leg routine. I used to do Squats, Calf Raises, Leg Raises and Hamstring Curls, but now do Squats, Calf Raises, Front Squats and, if my legs aren't completely dead by then, lunges.

I usually do 6 sets of 5-8 reps of squats, and 4-5 sets of 8 Front Squats, with Calf Raises in-between the two. Seeing better results from following three months of these than the previous 8 months on the latter (leg Raises etc.)

[BiomedDood]

I've been working out for a year now ...put on some noob mass on my upper thighs but my quads are lacking bigtime :-(.

Heard Front Squats hit the quads more so I'm switching to that from this week. Gonna focus on form first so will go light on weights the first couple of weeks.

[philipj]

Each stresses your back, hips and legs differently. If you are in this to become stronger and better off, alternate them from time to time. I think the front squats benefit us more, especially in how we stand, walk, and present our selves. Say not hunched over.

[grubman]

Front squats my go to quad exercise.

Other squat variations for everything else.

I agree...but I have to add that anyone who has a trap (hex) bar should give trap bar squats a try. They really hit the quads like front squats, but are more comfortable to do, and you can use a lot more weight. I love them. And as a sort of "bonus", you get some of the benefits you would from deadlifts as a freebie (if you don't do deadlifts as part of your program).

[olyw8lifter]

BOTH.. Because the Chinese and Russians told me so.

^^^^ So much this!!

[angrypenguin54]

I prefer back squats. Past shoulder injuries and mobility just make front squats too uncomfortable for me. I know I should probably just fix the root cause, but I feel that high bar back squats are hitting my quads good.

[Chilliez]

Awesome feed back guys!!! Very informative.

[kgrrl]

I prefer front squats, simply because I have better technique and can go deeper with them. I have a tendency to lean forward too much and do a "goodmorning squat" when back squatting. Working on those back squats, though.

[Determinednoob]

High bar back squats. I can't do front squats for shiz. I can't fold my arms\wrist back far enough for the regular grip, and trying the arms folded method I end up with either the bar wanting to roll forward down my arms or resting on my throat.

[chriswatton66]

High bar back squats. I can't do front squats for shiz. I can't fold my arms\wrist back far enough for the regular grip, and trying the arms folded method I end up with either the bar wanting to roll forward down my arms or resting on my throat.

When I first tried Front Squats, I too found the folded arms technique a nightmare - the bar ended up rolling off my shoulders/delts and down my arms, leaving me with a knurled pattern on my arms for days afterwards. Looked like I had some kind of weird 'gangsta' tattoo!

[DieselsMom]

I do zercher as I don't have good shoulder/wrist flexibility but I definitely find them less stressful on my hips (hip reconstruction a couple of years ago) and I can go much deeper.

[JayVincent]

Back squats would be more effective since you can place more load on the bar, thus placing more load on the muscle. Front and back squats will load all of the muscles in the legs the same amount. No more on the quads than a back squat to make it worth doing over a back squat.

[Got2Squat]

I do low bar back squats because I train for strength. If I was bodybuilding or weightlifting I would likely spend some time on front squats and/or high bar back squats.

[Tmax55]

Why choose one or the other. I like to do both at the same time.

Seriously though, it depends on what I am trying to work. Back Squats are a better whole leg workout, but front squats hit the quads hard, so I do both depending on the occasion and what I am trying to work.

[anonymous]

High bar back

Love me some fronts but the loading is significantly less and it's much harder to do rep work, and I have problems with multiple sets - my injuries usually flare up after two sets, so I can't often do many sets , one set of heavy then one set of high rep back squats works perfectly for me

[bucsdodgers]

I like both, However I noticed my front squat form needs work at times.

[nathanb42]

Low bar back squat to improve my cycling performance. Best way to train the posterior chain, which translate to more power.

Front squats for aesthetics and core works. Builds quads and they are one of the best looking muscles. The narrower grip and upright stance really engages the core.

[K5Mathews]

I like, and use them both. I use front squats more for quad focus, and back squats when i want to hit my entire legs.