Is this enough for good leg development?

[Rayzor84]

Used to do low bar squat, front squat and rdl for 3 sets. Dropped back squat and now do front squat and rdl for 5 sets. A year and a half of trying everything taught me that back squatting doesn't agree with my body mechanics if I want to maintain a pain free lower back. Will these two exercises, heavy at 5 sets, be enough? Am I missing out on much for the legs, hips and glute here?

[Garage Rat]

In my bodybuilding days i relied heavily on hack squats on a machine and front squats with stiff leg deadlifts.
I wouldn't think in terms of heavy but what you need to stimulate growth for leg development.
IMO higher rep work for legs is better for bodybuilding 8-12 and sometimes up to 20 reps.
You must get into feeling your legs work instead of mindlessly doing heavy reps for the sake of getting the weight.
This is the difference between how a bodybuilder and say powerlifter think about things.
Im not saying heavy weights do not have a place but how about heavy weight for reps?
I am reminded of my competitive days when i would work a cycle for a month of squats once a week with 10 sets of 20 reps at 225lbs.
This took me over an hour to complete but my legs grew like crazy which for me showed that higher reps were better development.
I defiantly wouldn't do this with front squats but could be done on a hack squat machine.
So i hope this helps you a bit.

[Rayzor84]

I'll try hack squats. Can't imagine high reps with front squats.

[Rayzor84]

Bump

[ironwill2008]

Used to do low bar squat, front squat and rdl for 3 sets. Dropped back squat and now do front squat and rdl for 5 sets. A year and a half of trying everything taught me that back squatting doesn't agree with my body mechanics if I want to maintain a pain free lower back. Will these two exercises, heavy at 5 sets, be enough? Am I missing out on much for the legs, hips and glute here?

To build a pair of bodybuilder's legs, you'll need more than just a couple of exercises.

[Rayzor84]

To build a pair of bodybuilder's legs, you'll need more than just a couple of exercises.

Any suggestions? Can't back squat and leg press wrecks my knees.

[ironwill2008]

Any suggestions? Can't back squat and leg press wrecks my knees.

Those are two bodybuilding staples.


What is the problem with your knees? Have you sought a medical diagnosis/treatment?

[batman37]

Front squats with a pause are amazing. So are RDLs

Throw in walking lunges and split squats.

[Rayzor84]

Those are two bodybuilding staples.


What is the problem with your knees? Have you sought a medical diagnosis/treatment?

No because no insurance.

I used to leg press until I started getting constant pain in the back of my left knee. When I stopped leg press and added front squats instead, the pain was gone within a week.

Not sure why suddenly I'm having pain in front of the knees from front squats, as I've been at them for a few months and just stopped back squats a couple weeks ago so it should be even less load on my knees.