squats only working my hamstrings?

[JustinStephan89]

I squat with a narrow stance and with alot of depth and recently i only feel sore in the hamstrings and hips and stuff. I feel as if my quads arent involved as much as they should be and im relying on the wrong muscles for the job.What are some quad specific compound movements i can do to strenthen them?

[APA Lifter]

Narrow stance hack squats/front squats kind sir!

[breathingmurder]

Well, what is the point of your squats?
Do you just want big quads--are you a bodybuilder?
If you are a powerlifter, as long as your squat keeps going up it should be fine.

If your quads are a weakpoint and are holding back your squats, then you could do front squats, like the poster above suggested.

But you are saying that squats just make your hamstrings sore.
That's a totally different deal. I can do front squats, back squats, whatever, and not have my quads get sore. Some days I'll do a really heavy squat workout and not get sore, other days I'll do a light squat workout and be barely able to walk the next day.

Soreness has relatively little to do with how well a muscle gets worked. In fact it may be that you just have tight hamstrings that need to be stretched more, and this is to account for most of the soreness.

[Danimal]

^^^ good post!

[ArchDukeOfTops]

Well, what is the point of your squats?
Do you just want big quads--are you a bodybuilder?
If you are a powerlifter, as long as your squat keeps going up it should be fine.

If your quads are a weakpoint and are holding back your squats, then you could do front squats, like the poster above suggested.

But you are saying that squats just make your hamstrings sore.
That's a totally different deal. I can do front squats, back squats, whatever, and not have my quads get sore. Some days I'll do a really heavy squat workout and not get sore, other days I'll do a light squat workout and be barely able to walk the next day.

Soreness has relatively little to do with how well a muscle gets worked. In fact it may be that you just have tight hamstrings that need to be stretched more, and this is to account for most of the soreness.

thats exactly what happens to me.

Also, your hammies and posterior chain are a much more powerful muscle group than your quads. So using them in the squat are not a bad thing. If you want to hit your quads more, throw some front squats in there. I've found that even though front squats are supposed to put more emphasis on the quads, I'm still using my hammies a good bit because of my style of squatting.

[The_Brawler]

Why is everyone saying that front squats will hit quads harder than back squats. They are basically the same exercise. The only difference is that back squats require more lower back than front squats. Thats it, the ROM on both front and back squats are the same for the legs.

[ArchDukeOfTops]

Why is everyone saying that front squats will hit quads harder than back squats. They are basically the same exercise. The only difference is that back squats require more lower back than front squats. Thats it, the ROM on both front and back squats are the same for the legs.

you don't do front squats much do you

[The_Brawler]

you don't do front squats much do you

Yes i do them mate. Is that the only response you have?
Now your probably gona say that your quads feel sore the next day after front squats more than back squats right? Well it doesnt matter. Watch the movement in a front squat. Its identical to a back squat with the only difference being that back squats require that you use more lower back. Thats it.

[ArchDukeOfTops]

Yes i do them mate. Is that the only response you have?
Now your probably gona say that your quads feel sore the next day after front squats more than back squats right? Well it doesnt matter. Watch the movement in a front squat. Its identical to a back squat with the only difference being that back squats require that you use more lower back. Thats it.

soreness doesn't have **** to do with it. I don't need to watch the movement of the front squat, I do them. Your lower back is HEAVILY involved in front squats. Actually, lower back usually is the first thing to make you miss a front squat.

[The_Brawler]

soreness doesn't have **** to do with it. I don't need to watch the movement of the front squat, I do them. Your lower back is HEAVILY involved in front squats. Actually, lower back usually is the first thing to make you miss a front squat.

The thread was about the use of quads while doing back squats and ppl suggested front squats. Im arguing that front squats dont target quads any harder than back squats. And you say they do but now your arguing that front squats his the lower back.

[GoJu]

The thread was about the use of quads while doing back squats and ppl suggested front squats. Im arguing that front squats dont target quads any harder than back squats. And you say they do but now your arguing that front squats his the lower back.

front squats do hit the lower back, you have to keep your core and back straight in the front squat more than the back squat or you'll topple over, however the position of the front squats works the quads more directly than a back squat does.

[TheSheepdog]

you said that you do them with a narow stance...how about trying something revolutionary different, like going wider or front squats, or throwing in some walking lunges, or pre-exhausting your quads with leg extensions first then squatting or leg pressing...dude, there's about a hundred different things you can do, and everybody is going to feel it a little different, i'm 6'2 with long legs, so if i give you my advice do you think it will work for you???

[thefight]

heh i wish squats hit my hamstrings more cuz ive been trying to get better hip drive which would improve my squat...so if anything...consider urself lucky

[ehlpitel]

I like that squats hit my hamstrings, helps my drive on deads.

[stronglifts]

I squat with a narrow stance and with alot of depth and recently i only feel sore in the hamstrings and hips and stuff. I feel as if my quads arent involved as much as they should be and im relying on the wrong muscles for the job.What are some quad specific compound movements i can do to strenthen them?

switch to front squats - go deep.

[JoeyCentral]

you said that you do them with a narow stance...how about trying something revolutionary different, like going wider or front squats, or throwing in some walking lunges, or pre-exhausting your quads with leg extensions first then squatting or leg pressing...dude, there's about a hundred different things you can do, and everybody is going to feel it a little different, i'm 6'2 with long legs, so if i give you my advice do you think it will work for you???

Suggesting that he does a chitty isolation exercise to exhaust a muscle group that he needs to use for a heavy compound movement is by far the stupidest advice I've ever heard. Just comes to show how much one gets away with chity training when on anabolics...

[SuffolkPunch]

Suggesting that he does a chitty isolation exercise to exhaust a muscle group that he needs to use for a heavy compound movement is by far the stupidest advice I've ever heard. Just comes to show how much one gets away with chity training when on anabolics...

You are arguing with 2007

In case anyone else stumbles on this thread: https://www.strongerbyscience.com/ha...for-the-squat/

[Remingtongauge2]

stay more upright and thatll hit quads more

[Tor575]

I think it's odd that only your hamstrings are sore after doing squats. Your hamstrings should be sore after deadlifting. I never have sore hamstrings after doing squats. Maybe something's off with your form?