Should You Choose Leg Press or Hack Squat For Muscle Growth?

[@Iron.Historian]

Yeah nice try but I ain't training legs

[@Daniel12408]

Real

[@jamesmcknight6368]

but there's so many great exercises you can implement into your leg day. like bench press, overhead press, bicep curls, and t-bar rows if you're feeling lucky. Work harder brother, you've got this 💪

[@chrisweidner4768]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ryry5249]

Shud up and squat

[@microsoftpowerpoint4731]

dom??!!

[@backslashthe3rd]

as someone who has a L4 and L5 spinal fusion, squats with a barbell or smith aren't possible anymore...these two exercises have literally saved my workouts for my legs

[@AlphaLionTrillionaire]

Why would you fuse discs 🤔

[@CarlosHernandez-uh1nm]

@@AlphaLionTrillionairehe clearly means his L4 and L5 vertebrae.

[@Ancient.Odyssey]

Im about to have my l4 and l5 fused from a sports injury, any tips you've found with your training experience?

[@backslashthe3rd]

@@AlphaLionTrillionaire Spondylolisthesis, worst thing that ever happened to me. compressed my bones so bad I lost feeling in my leg all the way down to my toes.

[@backslashthe3rd]

@@CarlosHernandez-uh1nm yep

[@Some0ne001]

Leg press and horizontal leg press have been amazing for me, lots of growth and keeping my back safe.

[@memorycard1000]

I snapped my back in the legpress. 😅 It's doable. Not wanna fearmonger. I was all well and good after a week or so. But it hurt like craxy. Had to be helped up.

[@malmonti]

Ok bro the thumbnail for this video of Dr Mike on the hack squat is peak anabolic energy.

[@sonipitts]

Scott the Video Guy and team really went all in on this one. Pretty sure my test levels went up just clicking on it.

[@Aaronsolnelson]

You missed one of the big benefits of Hack Squat over Leg Press. You have to move fewer plates. I'm using like 3 more plates on LP than HS. Moving those around before and after the lift sucks.

[@charlieparkeris]

This is why I choose hack squat. Loading and unloading the leg press take too much work.

[@rampagerhino5434]

Very true

[@moist603]

That was my experience, too. As a beginner, I was starting at 160kg on the leg press but went over to hack squats and could barely do 40kg. That was about 6 months ago, and now I'm up to 70kgs.

[@mikecartier6163]

Yes! Loadig way less plates is a huge bonus!

[@joeysung311]

@@moist603how if you’re doing full ROM could you do 160 on leg press while you hack squat with 40?

[@brian2e]

For me leg press is basically a fart machine

[@nuclearghandi2899]

Feature, not a bug.

[@Jimminityjabooboo]

Ripper 💨

[@DavidLloyd-v7v]

I am absolutely astonished by how much good and useful info is available on this channel. I have now officially knocked off hours of content to the point that my wife thinks I might have a problem. Good shit. I even went to my other two channels to subscribe twice more... Not that my opinion matters but if it did... Best work out and training channel on the Internet. Hands down.

[@gur262]

When i was over 260lbs/123kg my stomach was in the way. Hell i popped a rib, twice. Though that was already so from an accident, so prone to it. An eric janicki like frog stance worked then. Also worked later. Full range of motion. What i find very important is the feeling of safety that gives you. If you go down almost to the block of the machine, you got no fear of getting crushed by it.

[@thetowndrunk988]

Eric Janicki’s way of doing it really opened my hip and knee flexibility to a whole new level. If I play golf nowadays, I can feel my hips moving much more smoothly.

[@nomecognome354]

Barbell squat is the barbell squat of the barbell squat. Truly THE barbell squat EVER.

[@julienrodot8288]

May be for you but for most no really

[@CarneGranada]

Perfect timing. I squatted hard for 3-4 months and it's starting to bother my hips. Time to switch over to leg press or hack squats for a while!

[@Alexlinnk]

Hack squats are better for me

[@nilsandresen9912]

fix your squat

[@elvismora7378]

​@@Alexlinnk Have you tried leg press with your feet even lower? It's like mimicking a sissy squat

[@CarneGranada]

@nilsandresen9912 bro fix your squat

[@jacobstewart9139]

You shouldn't avoid the squat because of that. The fact that you are experiencing pain while doing a motion that is very natural is evidence that another muscle, possibly in your hip, is too tight or too weak, or your form isn't correct. I don't want to tell you what to do, but I strongly encourage you to go to a PT and see if you have a muscle or posture problem

[@DustinOranchuk]

I have injured each hip fairly seriously twice in my life. Both times I found doing single-leg hack squats (basically a pistol squat where you don't have to worry about balance) the absolute best exercise for tracking and closing the strength differences between each side!

[@88luda88]

If I had to ''Chose'' between the two I'd pick Barbell Curls

[@annoyedchef7124]

In the squat rack

[@lukekent9687]

Based

[@justincarreras7753]

Lol

[@jimdelsol1941]

Thank you for giving recommandations based on "experience level". As a beginner, it is important for me to know whether or not the information here applies.

[@awangendahl]

I love hack squats as a mild rehab/progression for a bad knee, I feel so much in control in the movement, and my knee never hurts doing hack squats for some reason, probably is on me, but I just love it!!! Thank you for such a great video!!!

[@esradijkstra8186]

No hack squat at my gym sadly…..

[@gregszczepkowski2550]

Same here, leg press and quad extension machine is all I have.

[@GB-ld6lf]

Smith machine Squats are a good alternative

[@akshaymishra3674]

You can also use smith bar as a vertical leg press.​@@GB-ld6lf

[@peetos-chan2835]

My gym has the 90° hack squat, which you basically sit in. I hate it. And then a nautilus leg press that rotates as it lowers and raises, and that also really sucks. Lol.

[@albatross_gg]

Go to a different gym

[@Schacal6666]

I only see hammer strength leg presses everywhere. They are perfect. No downsides

[@DrSmokeTrees]

I hate them

[@corismsyn]

Finally. I'd been searching RP channel for this video about a year ago and nada.

[@Eliarbreton]

Really appreciate the breakdown at the end for how to apply this as a beginner, intermediate, advanced

[@RareMarble]

Thank you for the gold content as always Doc

[@dominick5886]

He’s a clown

[@jkane334]

@@dominick5886aww the little guy skips leg day huh?

[@StunningModelAaliyahAustin-b9b]

Haven't had access to a hack squat in a long time, so I've been doing leg press for 70% of my quad work. Hit 500lbs for 5 reps last year as a 175lb boi, but since getting your technique tips I've started over with my weights and my hip/ankle mobility have improved massively. Also my lower spine doesn't feel like it's going to fracture...

[@ULTRAOutdoorsman]

Excellent work StunningModelAaliyahAustin-b9b, keep us apprised of when you become a 200lb boi

[@baer168]

@@ULTRAOutdoorsman😂

[@PoorlySoup]

Woah, trippy to see my comment absolutely sniped by a bot 😆

[@TheFoxyKevinT]

@@PoorlySoup As a society, we need to be more robophobic.

[@williamhnatko1958]

I love hack squats, I’ve been doing the tippy toe, ass to heels style forever, and love it. You get used to the awkwardness pretty quickly

[@MiCKEYDiAMONDSS]

5:42 that full ROM breath 🤌

[@jjakes1930]

This couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ve been doing hack squats for the last many months and last leg session I decided to try and switch to leg press for a while and it felt soooo much better. For some reason I got a lot more sore than from the hack squats and really felt like the reps were top quality.

[@benjaminjameskurz]

I feel the opposite. I never felt my quads with leg press but feel them just doing warm up sets on havk squats

[@hemlock399]

Switching up will get you sore & end your plateau. Need to rotate through different exercises over time.

[@high-captain-BaLrog]

@@hemlock399 a seemingly pseudo scientific claim based in rationalism?

[@jackdemoguitar]

Agree 100% that leg press ideally is amazing but leg press reality is…varied

[@harrybauls4315]

Leg press + bottom partials + MMs feels like a form of torture.

[@mrspartan228]

Dr. Mike coming in clutch (and other things) as usual. Exact problem I'm having this week. Back muscles are strained but legs are fresh, gonna give the leg press a try at my gym and see how it goes. Thank you!

[@ChristianHesford]

My gym just got a hammer strength hack squat. That machine is a thing of beauty 👌🏻

[@Alessio_아레씨오]

bro is legit dying for the thumbnails 😂

[@KarmaTrauma22]

Just crushed my Leg day. It was quad focused. Did Seated leg press to start, next isolated single leg lung, followed by goblet squat and leg extensions to failure. Ended with core 💪

[@DamienAlexander]

Im 30 and meased up my knees, everyone don't sit too much, it will mess you up for life and don't drive a car too long.

[@km841]

How long is too long to drive along in my car then maestro?

[@leonardocota4703]

???????????????????????????

[@jmarvosa6x3]

Sounds like you didnt squat enuff doggy

[@Vitlaus]

Texting and driving will jack up your knees - When you slam on the brakes, but crash anyway.

[@Misterskillzz7]

Bro that's crazy beep beep

[@alik4325]

Dr Mike reading my thoughts, this man gets the questions answered frl.

[@Ross_E_2]

Both these excercises are my favourite

[@hjewkes]

I spent about a year struggling with barbell squats, only to make the connection the machine I’d been doing calf raises on the whole time was a pendulum squat. Quads have been blowing up ever since adding that in to my routine

[@GotFaculty]

My favourite, love how deep you can go

[@RevereShin]

6:18 beautifully summarized.

[@manuelvillarreal8983]

The amount on info, let alone specified info, is insane. Love these videos.

[@andreww2208]

Holy crap. I've been experiencing all these issues with the Leg Press machine and thought that it was just me... and then Dr. Mike comes to my rescue to let me know that I'm not crazy!

[@ghostsmoke11]

I'm about to do a leg focused meso with the rp app, nice timing on this video

[@BrianGomez-iu3fs]

I injured my knee kickboxing a long time ago. Every time I use a leg press my knees hurt for the rest of the week, but when I goblet squat or barbell squat my knees feel brand new.

[@Raymal100]

I like to include some form of both. Something with the hip extension of a full squat and something with the peak contraction of a leg press.

[@McWhatevs]

Another case of Mike extolling the virtues of the squat, yet something I don't recall ever seeing him do in his *many* leg workout videos

[@Saki630]

I have never been able to do Hack-Squats my whole life without pain or discomfort in my knees because it feels like I dont have the range of motion to bring my butt down to my knees. In the past I could do 5-plate leg presses over multiple sets and was doing barbell+smith machine squats with not so much weight 70lbs on each side, but still couldnt do 45's on Hack Squat. I use hacksquat with no weight to stretch my legs out, and then do leg press + squats to target my muscles. My old gym plays videos and the legendary Platz workouts where he brings his but down to his ankles while rolling his feet in the hack-squat was amazing to see.

[@km841]

I can't touch my butt with my knees either......

[@Txjumpman]

The old school leg platform press with the rounded back on the seat was the best leg machine I’ve ever used. Blew my legs up size and strength. Nothing has worked as good as that for me. Not even free weights.

[@mccannistan]

Dr Mike, your videos are great. Now that you have made it to the big time I suggest you upgrade your tech. You need one of those teleprompters that’s placed right on top of the camera lens. This way you wouldn’t have to look down and to the left to look at your notes.

[@SianPoteat-Romero-z8v]

Dropping this on leg day…its a sign

[@teodpcrew2245]

One of the best fitness channel on this platform!

[@dominick5886]

Lmao he’s a clown

[@jkane334]

​@@dominick5886why is that?

[@jmsantiago1]

On the leg press with different feet positions, I can target hamstrings and other parts, while hack squats literally just cook my quads, and nothing else gets stimulus or fatigue. I love both.

[@ValentinaLopez-c3m]

This soundtrack slaps, great choice!

[@ivan06pr]

Average bot logic

[@XanderYTV]

This comment made me want to give you my credit card info. how do I do so?

[@joshwalsh6194]

Are there 34 other bots in here or is that 34 sock f@$&ers?

[@GloxZation]

I am a fairly tall fella with back problems since 17 years old, switching to hack squats saved my back and blew up my legs

[@danielt1792]

Nice video! I’ll be keeping it in mind for next year’s leg day.

[@abc-vn7zv]

hack squat with narrow stance keeping your feet closets to the machine in the bottom is amazing ..casn't feel much on leg prss tho...as in case of barbell squats ,im unable to them as it will hurt my shoulder and neck bones

[@julianboyd8719]

Am I the only person who just doesn't feel quads from leg presses? I even put my feet lower and narrow on the board. Hack squat destroys my quads though.

[@AxCHINESExFOX]

The fucking quality of content has skyrocketed since stopping the tren. Looking good and Talking good Dr. Mike. Thanks for taking out the constant fucking memery of RP ads.

[@Phelly2]

Hurt my lower back last week (not too bad but enough to stop me from squatting) so this video is perfect for me.

[@Angel-pj1dt]

team leg press

[@G34R146]

Same, I just enjoy being able to sit and focus only on my legs doing the work no other body part getting involved. Do whatever you enjoy while doing proper reps, that's what will lead to consistency and no injury which is a huge factor in the longevity of your training.

[@tijmen131]

Leg presses are such inferior movements. Hack squats all day

[@anshumaanthakur7206]

Why are they inferior?​@@tijmen131

[@miso5968]

​@@tijmen131depends on the quality of the machine. A good leg press and a good hack squat are both S+ tier

[@G34R146]

​@@tijmen131 The most inferior lifts are the ones you do not enjoy doing and the ones you won't be consistent with

[@Haze_E1]

barbell squat always calls my name and I shall listen to the best

[@aidangrubbs3418]

Never in my life have I almost fallen out of a leg press what are u talking bout Mr. Dr Man

[@RandomPerson28337]

Be careful with the negative comments guys. Mike will beat us up in his mind if he sees them.

[@Jimminityjabooboo]

IMO leg press is one of the best leg movements ever. Full stretch and different foot positions. It is the best for stimulus/fatigue ratio

[@DavidMonk-t6j]

Hate training legs full stop but hate squats hate hack squats Personal hit legs twice week leg extensions then leg press then hamstring…. RP STRENGTH APP💪🏻

[@castle_45]

I don't really do leg press anymore. Too many plates to use, inferior movement. I only do single leg leg press sometimes instead of lunges.

[@Misheva]

Goddammit Dr Mike, how do you come out with these amazing videos so consistently?

[@alfredov.4320]

Let’s resume the video: any of both, free squad is the best way.

[@Dominicko-up1nl]

Always a pleasure Dr Mike

[@dominick5886]

He’s a clown

[@Glenners]

I blew out my lower back 6ish years ago, and the hack squat has been an absolute life saver. Never been a fan of the leg press, and with a shitty lower back it's really out now. If your hack squat has an adjustable foot plate then you can adjust your stance and that plate and hit everything.

[@arda213]

This videos thumbnail reminds me of Coach Greg acting scared to the clip where you were shouting while doing leg extentions xD That was some hilarious stuff lol.

[@jacobgoldman688]

Both Hack Squat and Leg Press kneel before the 🐐 that is the Belt Squat 💯💯

[@theworld6888]

Been fucking around on the hack squat lately, I feel a craazy stretch under tension on them whenever I use a similar technique to the one Tom Platz used. Definitely check it out, if your knees allow for it

[@Rob-qn6od]

Do both.

[@unbabunga229]

Whichever one is free tbh, your leg workouts can be a bit more variable week to week compared to most muscles where - generally - you need have a lot of consistency each workout with exercises, sets, weight, reps etc

[@frankcooke1692]

I didn't hear anything after he said "You can mix rice and pasta". That's... revolutionary. What kind of sauce are we talking? Alfredo with Oyster sauce?

[@kierangallagher5687]

If you ever wanted to know what Mike looks like taking a dump... its that thumbnail

[@PixelPopOdyssey]

"Choose"

[@hirotakasugi4891]

I do both alternating but I’m a full body guy 4x a week so two of each 5 sets each say. Leg Press + Lying Leg curls, the other day hacks squat + Hip hinge types. Both Arsenal Strength Machines, they let me go deep. And I also do calves on the leg press machine.

[@PersonManGuyDude]

I had never heard of or seen a hack squat machine before i came to this channel.

[@anjhap]

I’d love a video on how to pick yourself up after a failed cut… I ended up having so much random life shit happen that my weekly average for several weeks of my cut just ended up at maintenance. It felt like I was just spinning my wheels, I’m still burned out from cutting and lost quite a bit of strength, but also I didn’t actually come out of my cut having made much progress… tips on what to do from here? Your channel is really the only place I go to for information at this point!

[@Liftergeist]

aand the answer is, belt squat

[@spideylover4105]

Tom Platz commented that Leg Presses were more of an ego exercise and not really great for hypertrophy. He was, however, a huge fan of the hack squat. We all know how his legs turned out. I'll stick with hack squats.

[@junesuprise]

Hack squats are amazing. I hated doing barbell squats because of awkwardness/discomfort of heavy ass barbell at my shoulders, then I discovered hack squat machine (I like the most the one where you’re kinda sitting and push with your back, not shoulders). Man what I’m doing on that machine it’s inappropriate to say.

[@nfrchase1081]

Doctor Mike could you do a video on snapping tricep syndrome and how to lift with having the condition. I know it’s extremely rare in most cases but I’ve struggled with lifting and gaining weight because of having this and would love to hear your take on the subject

[@turkishexpress]

Another thing I like hack squats over leg presses is the ease with which you can get into position to execute the movement, especially if you're a bigger guy. Getting in and out of a leg press machine sometimes is a pita, especially if you've had a rough set.

[@km841]

It's not a frickin' Lotus Elise lad, how big are you?

[@turkishexpress]

@@km841 6'1 280-300lbs.

[@TheMiracleOfTheValley]

Vintage Cybex Hack Squat has something so particular to me that I don’t know how to explain it but I know that if you use that killing machine with 4 45lbs plates on each side, to failure and with help on both sides, there is nothing else to look for because you will probably have a religious experience when you finish the set.

[@jsinclair39]

Hacks are top for me since the machine is always available. You can't ego lift on hacks and you can also flip around and do good mornings for hams and glutes.

[@dwigtschrude]

My gym has a separate leg focused room for legs, full of squat racks and Atlantis machines. Let me tell you that place is where the soul of the gym lives

[@Misclickt]

And then there's the special, no one uses, the left-out friend, the V-squat.

[@Dr_Evil_Genius]

I have 3 leg days per week. I do Leg Press on Tuesdays, Hack Squats on Thursdays, and BB Back Squats on Saturdays. I figure I can get the benefits and detriments of all three.

[@adamchawki]

Forgot the enhanced vs not enhanced category 😂 Great advice btw

[@MyTechTopia]

Can’t do squats anymore, leg press is my go to replacement. Not a fan of back squats, but I will use it if necessary.

[@prenticeanyonywright]

People who don't squat because it damages their back are often using waaay too much weight. You have to subtract not only the weight of the bar(from leg press numbers), but also just under half the weight of your body as your legs are lifting that with the barbell. In fact you probably might want to start with subtracting even more weight just so you can squat really really deep and get good at the movement

[@stevieboy7075]

At my gym it’s a more upright chair for leg press that I can’t really get too deep of a stretch, but my gut is also a limiting factor

[@Ubeogesh]

Hammer Strength V-Squat machine is quite amazing that has none of these downsides. However after years of using it (probably just me getting older), i started getting some knee pain sometimes on it (with just slightly higher weight than barbell squat)

[@adolfochavez9633]

thank you so much for all the advice

[@mitchelljarvis2944]

Would love a quick part 2 to add the pendulum squat

[@sherlockwho5714]

For my screwed up lower back I try to avoid a situation where I might drop a weight on my head or back. So I'm on that leg press

[@stevephla]

I know of so many low back injuries from leg press. I'll stick to the hack squat.

[@TheCharlaton]

I find hack squats and leg press are best used when someone is doing barbell shrugs in the one squat rack your gym has.

[@TheFoxyKevinT]

This is the most high-test thumbnail of all time.

[@TokyoSwan.]

Can't get comfortable in a hack squat... huge torso, tiny legs. Crushes my back.

[@MagDumpsBicepPumps]

Do a video working out with Coop from Garage Gym Reviews!!!! 💪🏋‍♂️🏋‍♀️🏋

[@alfredoA7921]

Would you consider launching a Spanish-languaje channel? It would be incredibly helpful

[@conradandrew825]

Neither! Quad, ham and glute isolation instead, because I have varicose veins and can't allow that much pressure to build up in my legs.