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Also known as: Back rack squat, Back racked squat.

Technique

  1. Position the Barbell in the rack at about chest height.
  2. Stand under the bar, aligning it with your Trapezius and shoulders.
  3. Grab the bar and pull your elbows forward to create a rest for the Barbell.
  4. Unrack by straightening your legs and walk out 2 small steps.
  5. Position your feet slightly farther than hip width apart, with your toes pointed slightly outward.
  6. Straighten your spine by coming into a posterior Pelvic tilt.
  7. Brace your core by breathing into your side body.
  8. Initiate the movement by pushing your hips back and bending your knees.
  9. Keep a neutral spine and neck.
  10. Squat down until your thighs are at least parallel to the ground or lower.
  11. To get up, drive through your heels, extending hips and knees.

Form tips

  • Do not rest the bar on your neck.
  • Knees stay in line with the direction of the toes, actively push them outward to avoid collapsing inward. Keep your feet planted firmly and press through all four corners of the feet. Should your feet lift or shift at any point during the movement, try adjusting your stance and adding ankle mobility exercises to your routine.
  • The bar should travel downward in a straight line. Avoid letting your upper body fall forward or rounding your lower back (“butt wink”).
Logging: Total weight used.

Muscles

Strength

Primary

  • Glutes
  • Hamstrings
  • Quadriceps

Secondary

  • Hip adductors
  • Pelvis
  • Gluteus maximus
  • Semitendinosus
  • Semimembranosus
  • Biceps femoris (long)
  • Rectus femoris
  • Vastus medialis
  • Vastus intermedius
  • Vastus lateralis

Equipment

Appears in

Other disciplines
Joint movements
trains stretches

Progressions

e0h1

Barbell front squat

Novice
e13j

Double kettlebell front squat

Novice
w007

Back squat press

Novice

Regressions

e031

Deep squat

Beginner
e0xp

Deep squat hold

Beginner
e1c1

Leg press

Beginner
e1c9

Seated leg press

Beginner
e11o

Goblet cyclist squat

Novice
e0kf

Prying goblet squat

Novice
e1aa

Zercher squat

Novice
e0kc

Bob and weave

Beginner
e1c2

Narrow-stance leg press

Beginner
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