Front squat same strength as back squat?

[Aleck12]

What does it mean if i can front squat almost the same weight for the same reps as my back squat? quad dominant? weak hamstring on back squat?

Ive been doing 295 lbs 5x5 on back squat
Probably could hit 250 or more on front squat for 5x5

Thoughts? normal?

[Engineer_Guy]

That's not an abnormal ratio actually if you train them equally. And those numbers aren't "almost the same" at all, you're front squat is about 85% of your back squat, which is a fairly big difference. Many Oly guys can front squat 85-90% of their back squat.

Most people have very low front squats because they rarely train them. Most people tend to focus completely on back squatting (a mistake IMO). So you see a lot of guys on the net who can only front 50-60% of their back squat.

[ironwill2008]

What does it mean if i can front squat almost the same weight for the same reps as my back squat? quad dominant? weak hamstring on back squat?

It means you've been putting in a lot of time and effort working on your Front Squat (and there's nothing at all wrong with that).

Ive been doing 295 lbs 5x5 on back squat
Probably could hit 250 or more on front squat for 5x5

Thoughts? normal?

250X5X5 is a good number for a guy your weight. No doubt, your quads show it.


As Engineer mentioned, not many guys on this site train Fronts hard. Many guys don't like the ego hit they take when they first start doing Fronts compared to the weight they can already Back Squat. Many will also erroneously assume that if they have to reduce the load to do Fronts, then Fronts must be inferior. That couldn't be farther from the truth, at least if someone's goal was to build his quads, rather than his glutes.

[Retardo-pex]

What does it mean if i can front squat almost the same weight for the same reps as my back squat? quad dominant? weak hamstring on back squat?

Ive been doing 295 lbs 5x5 on back squat
Probably could hit 250 or more on front squat for 5x5

Thoughts? normal?

It depends on a few things. Maybe you are sinking your back squats but barely going down on your front, compare with a video if you are unsure.

Do you use a similar stance for both? If you front squat like an o lifter but back squat like a powerlifter, maybe the powerlifting style squat is actually your weaker stance and your back squat would benefit from a high bar or closer stance than you are currently using.

Its hard for me to judge without seeing as I have always had at least 100 lbs on my back squat over my front squat.