It’s almost universally agreed upon that the number one exercise for getting huge quads, hamstrings and glutes is the squat. Regardless of your goals when training legs – whether it be for mass or strength – squats will always be the most effective exercise you can incorporate into your training regimen.
There are many squat variations which can be done with various types of resistance, whether in the form of bodyweight, resistance bands, heavy dumbbells or barbells loaded with an adequate load. For anyone who is serious about getting the most out of their leg training, the two most popular variations are the classic barbell back squat and the front squat.
The squat is a full-body compound exercise that targets multiple muscle groups – especially the hips, thighs and buttocks. It’s considered essential for increasing the size and strength of the legs and glutes, while also building core strength. When performed with proper form, the lower and upper back, abs, trunk muscles, intercostal muscles, arms and shoulders are all trained isometrically alongside the primary movers.
But which variation is actually better – back squat or front squat? Here’s the breakdown.
Back Squat
The standard barbell back squat is a natural squatting movement which allows more load to be put on the barbell, leading to greater long-term muscle gain. It is the most effective full-body compound mass-building movement available – training your quads, hamstrings, glutes, erector spinae, soleus, gastrocnemius, adductors and abs all with one movement.
Back squats can be done with lighter loads for muscle definition and toning, or with heavier loads for bodybuilding, power building and powerlifting goals. No matter what your individual goal is, back squats are considered by many in the fitness world to be the quintessential exercise for legs.
How to Do the Back Squat
- Unrack the barbell and rest it across your upper back and shoulders. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and grip the bar firmly with both hands.
- Shift your weight into your heels and brace your core. Keep your chest up and your spine neutral throughout the movement.
- Squat down until the top of your thigh is just below the top of your knee – aim for at least parallel.
- Drive through your heels and extend your legs to return to the starting position. Keep the core tight and the spine straight throughout the entire movement.
Front Squat
The front squat is the less popular variation – most people are unaccustomed to doing them and you may not be able to load the barbell with as much weight as you would in a back squat. When you place the barbell in front of your body, you change the biomechanics, providing stimulus to slightly different muscles.
Even though front squats do not stimulate the gluteus muscles and the hamstrings as efficiently as back squats, they tend to have a greater impact on all three quadriceps heads. This is why many strength athletes do front squats as an assistance movement to bring up their quad development.
Another key benefit of the front squat is that because the barbell is supported in front of your body, the torso is in a more vertical position – which significantly lessens the burden on your lower back. For people with lower back issues, this makes the front squat the more appropriate variation. However, many athletes have found that supporting the barbell on the front of their shoulders is extremely uncomfortable, and for some outright painful, which limits how much weight they can use.
How to Do the Front Squat
- Set the bar at the height that matches your shoulders inside the squat rack. Load the bar, then bring your arms under it with your elbows pointing upward and your upper arms slightly above parallel to the floor.
- Rest the bar on top of your shoulders and cross your arms to grasp the bar for control. Lift it off the rack by pushing through your legs and straightening your torso.
- Take one or two steps back and place your feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointed slightly outward. Keep your head up – looking down will throw you off balance. This is your starting position.
- Inhale and begin lowering the bar slowly, bending your knees while keeping your back straight and your head up.
- Continue until the upper leg-to-calf angle is slightly less than 90 degrees – upper legs just below parallel to the floor.
- Drive through the middle of your foot, exhale, and straighten your legs back to the starting position. Repeat for the prescribed number of reps.
Back Squat vs Front Squat: Key Differences
Muscle emphasis: Back squats hit the quads, hamstrings and glutes more evenly. Front squats shift more emphasis to the quads – specifically all three quadriceps heads – and reduce the load on the hamstrings and glutes.
Weight capacity: You’ll always be able to load more weight on a back squat. The front rack position is mechanically less stable, which limits the load most people can safely use.
Lower back stress: Front squats place significantly less stress on the lower back due to the more upright torso position. Back squats with heavy loads and a forward lean can accumulate lower back fatigue over time.
Difficulty: Front squats require considerably more upper body mobility – particularly in the wrists and shoulders – and greater thoracic flexibility. Many lifters find the front rack position uncomfortable until they’ve spent time building that mobility.
Core demand: Both require significant core stability. Front squats demand slightly more due to the upright position and the challenge of keeping the torso from collapsing forward.
Which One Should You Do?
The simple answer: both. They aren’t competing exercises – they’re complementary ones.
Use back squats as your primary movement when you want to build overall leg muscle mass and load the pattern as heavy as possible. If you need to put additional emphasis on the quads, incorporate front squats as well. The best approach is to start your session with back squats, then proceed to do a few sets of front squats as an assistance movement.
If knee problems are preventing you from doing back squats comfortably, front squats are often the better option – the more upright position reduces shear force on the knee and keeps the torso more aligned. Related: 7 Steps to an Impressive Squat
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