Barbell Squat To A Bench

An advanced compound strength exercise that works the quads, using a barbell.

Barbell Squat To A Bench — Starting position Starting position
Barbell Squat To A Bench — End position End position
Difficulty Advanced
Type Strength
Equipment Barbell
Primary Muscle Quads
AI Rep Counting Log manually

How to Do Barbell Squat To A Bench

  1. This exercise is best performed inside a squat rack for safety purposes. To begin, first place a flat bench or a box behind you. The flat bench is used to teach you to set your hips back and to hit depth.
  2. Then, set the bar on a rack that best matches your height. Once the correct height is chosen and the bar is loaded, step under the bar and place the back of your shoulders (slightly below the neck) across it.
  3. Hold on to the bar using both arms at each side and lift it off the rack by first pushing with your legs and at the same time straightening your torso.
  4. Step away from the rack and position your legs using a shoulder width medium stance with the toes slightly pointed out. Keep your head up at all times as looking down will get you off balance and also maintain a straight back. This will be your starting position. (Note: For the purposes of this discussion we will use the medium stance described above which targets overall development; however you can choose any of the three stances discussed in the foot stances section).
  5. Begin to slowly lower the bar by bending the knees and sitting your hips back as you maintain a straight posture with the head up. Continue down until you slightly touch the bench behind you. Inhale as you perform this portion of the movement. Tip: If you performed the exercise correctly, the front of the knees should make an imaginary straight line with the toes that is perpendicular to the front. If your knees are past that imaginary line (if they are past your toes) then you are placing undue stress on the knee and the exercise has been performed incorrectly.
  6. Begin to raise the bar as you exhale by pushing the floor with the heel of your foot as you straighten the legs and extend the hips to go back to the starting position.
  7. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

Muscles Worked

Front
Back

Primary

Where Barbell Squat To A Bench does most of its work.

Secondary

Assisting and stabilising muscles.

Alternatives to Barbell Squat To A Bench

10 movements that train the same primary muscle, closest substitutes first — same kind of training, then variations of the movement itself, then a similar difficulty.

  1. 1 Dumbbell Squat To A Bench

    Dumbbell Squat To A Bench

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the quads, using dumbbells.

    intermediate Dumbbells
  2. 2 Front Barbell Squat

    Front Barbell Squat

    An advanced compound strength exercise that works the quads, using a barbell.

    advanced Barbell
  3. 3 Front Barbell Squat To A Bench

    Front Barbell Squat To A Bench

    An advanced compound strength exercise that works the quads, using a barbell.

    advanced Barbell
  4. 4 One Leg Barbell Squat

    One Leg Barbell Squat

    An advanced compound strength exercise that works the quads, using a barbell.

    advanced Barbell
  5. 5 Barbell Full Squat

    Barbell Full Squat

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the quads, using a barbell.

    intermediate Barbell
  6. 6 Barbell Squat

    Barbell Squat

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the quads, using a barbell.

    beginner Barbell
  7. 7 Wide Stance Barbell Squat

    Wide Stance Barbell Squat

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the quads, using a barbell.

    intermediate Barbell
  8. 8 Barbell Side Split Squat

    Barbell Side Split Squat

    A beginner compound strength exercise that works the quads, using a barbell.

    beginner Barbell
  9. 9 Kettlebell Pistol Squat

    Kettlebell Pistol Squat

    An advanced compound strength exercise that works the quads, using a kettlebell.

    advanced Kettlebell
  10. 10 Barbell Hack Squat

    Barbell Hack Squat

    An intermediate compound strength exercise that works the quads, using a barbell.

    intermediate Barbell

Frequently Asked Questions

What muscles do barbell squat to a bench work?

Barbell Squat To A Bench primarily works the quads. The calves, glutes, hamstrings and lower back assist as secondary muscles.

What equipment do I need for barbell squat to a bench?

Barbell Squat To A Bench uses barbell.

Barbell Squat To A Bench: is it suitable for beginners?

Barbell Squat To A Bench is rated advanced. High skill or high load. Worth earning rather than starting with.

What can I do instead of barbell squat to a bench?

Dumbbell Squat To A Bench, Front Barbell Squat, Front Barbell Squat To A Bench train the same primary muscles and are listed with 7 more alternatives above.

Can Fitnit count my barbell squat to a bench reps automatically?

Not automatically yet. Fitnit's AI rep counting covers push-ups, squats, dumbbell curls, crunches and pull-ups today; barbell squat to a bench can be logged manually in the app, and tracked movements are added over time.

Photographs and step-by-step instructions from free-exercise-db, a public-domain exercise dataset. Muscle mapping and alternatives by Fitnit.

Track Your Barbell Squat To A Bench with AI

Fitnit automatically tracks push-ups, crunches, squats, pull-ups, and curls with advanced body tracking technology — and you can manually input any other workout too. Start free — Pro is $8.99/month.