3 leg press machines that 90% of gyms won't have lol

If there were machines like that in the gyms here I would use them, but the way it is now I have to stick to free weight. these bits of John hit right in the feels. Love that you still include him

I feel like your sound was kind of low this time around but good video. The range of motion on hack squat is insane for me and I can push harder without having to worry about injury

we all agree it's just that we don't have any room for these large machines in our home gyms 😭

Hot take: there should be way more cable machines in gyms. They’re the single most useful tool for isolation movements because you can change the direction of resistance. Outside of that, more t-bar row machines and seated calf machines would be great.

Thanks for taking your time making this video coach! 🙏🤗

That pendulum squat is one of those machines you don't even have to try out to know how well it works, you can just see it in the movement. Personally I really like to squat/deadlift lighter weights for my first exercise, and then put in the hardest work on a good machine for legs.

This has Helped me so much, i always felt I was missing out because I couldn’t do squats because of injuries but I still got great results with only machines🙌🏼

I stopped doing squats a couple months back when the weight got a bit too heavy for my comfort. Having scoliosis, I don't want to have over 300lb pushing down on my spine. I just do really heavy leg press now. My legs look godly nowadays.

Im a strength coach and as a general rule of thumb I program only free weights as building muscle is generally not a top goal for the athletes I work with. However, there are some exception to this. Im currently training a young woman who wants to become a police officer. She’s quite petite, has no training history (other than dance which isn’t relevant), and is in the lower percentile of strength, even for a woman her size. So I have her going through a strength and hypertrophy period right now. Long story short, while I generally wouldn’t use machines, my intent for her is to build some mass and thus machine equipment like the leg press make up a large proportion of her workouts.

I'm jealous of all these advanced machines.

Excellent breakdown, sir!

Hey Eugene, Just came across you channel. Been trying to find someone who can give info straight to the point without all the needless babbling. You got a sub from me. Keep it up 🙂

Thank you so much master!❤️

That safety squat bar looks so more stable and comfortable than a common one.

before I watch I just wanna say anyone who doesn’t currently hack squat, please do so. My quads have blown up in the past few months. And if you are already hack squatting and not going to or close to failure and not utilizing a full ROM, get your shit together.

I had a dual hernia surgery last year and I’m over 50. So, I’m not comfortable loading up massive weight in a free weights squat or deadlift. I’m always looking for body weight or alternative exercises. Much more comfortable doing machine presses so good to know it can be beneficial.

Awesome content as always

Ready to learn!

This is exactly kzfaq.infoUgkxUHHotQRjIQnfuxEeVotlkHVYWH0DXZoS what I needed to get some exercise while I'm stuck at my desk all day. It's just the right size. Only downsides are that the right oeddale unscrews itself while I use it and increasing the tension causes it to squeak while in use. Both are minor issues that aren't that important to me. So I give it 5 stars.

Great video!

I'm now realizing how leg extensions paired with a squat hardest at the bottom is such a great combo

i just pray my gym will buy a hack or swing machine soon-ish, i fucked my knees up a bit while doing powerlifting in the past and machines feel much better now. love those two in particular

Timely video mate, quick question, best exercise for teardrop? As I have aged I have notice a slight reduction in upper size but noticeable mass loss above knee teardrop areas. I have started doing leg extensions and hacks hard again .. Thoughts pls an Ty

45 degree hack/leg press is next on the list for my home gym 👍

Hey Eugene, i got a important question if you don't mind please. On 1:28 why did you only use one hand? Were you more leaned on your left shoulder? My gym has this machine and its a terrible angle when set it up as a leg press ( its a 2 in one machine ) Back to my question when i tried using it the way you are in your video at 1:28 ( i have very very narrow shoulders anatomy, very feminine bone structure) are the pads way to far apart, is that the reason you were on one side?? Also are all gym equipment the same with the pads? Or is the Machine i have at my gym just completely terrible?

After years of following powerlifitng and "powerbuilding principles" I found this hard to relate until recently My lower back was limiting me from Squatting more, so I started using the machines again at the gym Less joint and ache pains, back hasn't hurt in months with a flare up and body is transforming Now I completely agree with this

Uncle Teo thank you. Also including John meadows in there was a nice touch how is the pectorial doing by the way

These machines are cool. Especially that leg press. Hopefully competition increases the amount of time taken on aesthetics. Having seen your studio/gym I'm fairly sure you too find value in aesthetics.

I wish my gym had all these cool machines 😌

love ❤️ the john meadows footage.

Man I wish I was near a gym with such glorious equipment! What are your thoughts on the use of bands/chains to change the resistance of an exercise? I know that tends to be more used in the powerlifting crowd, but I employed bands frequently in hypertrophy cycles. Most recently I've used them for feet-elevated squats and they've made the stimulus similar to what you describe in the video.

As an mma practitioner and currently on a cut, I found the leg press SFR to be waaaay more favorable than the squat whilst offering virtually the same benefits. Whenever I used to squat on a cut I would always feel like shit but I don't anymore using a leg press as a substitute. Great video btw!

High bar squats, and a carefully selected machine squat variation, and you'll build those quads well.

This is like a dream gym ❤️

I notice that you don't talk about the same thing everytime or get over complicated with the science. Great video brotha

I use machines more when im deep in a diet and the risk of injury is great on trad barbell movements like squat and deadlift. I also use them when rehabbing injuries as I can better control how load is applied. they absolutely have their place in my training routine

SMART GUY. I AGREE WITH YOU. AND THINK MACHINES ARE BETTER FOR LEGS AND BACK. WHILE PRESERVING YOUR SPINE AND HEIGHTENING FOCUS.

Alr so if u had to pick a second “compound” movement for quads aside from regular barbell squats what would it be? Leg press or jack squat?

I have always thought Squats were better, but never could get the quads to grow much. Not blaming the excersize may be just me. I have incorporated machines mostly now, and I feel much better activation in my quads. (Hack squat, leg press, leg extention . ) I honestly never really used these. I am glad I started. Great video .

I train OLY lifting and mainly do free weight work. however, I need a more quad isolating move so every once a week in addition to my barbell squats on my program I hit leg press. but only as an accessory and only to target my quads.

I don’t do traditional squats because they feel awkward and my goals are more towards bodybuilding. I do hack squats, leg press and leg extensions for quads.

I blew out some cartilage in my knee cause I was being dumb so squats are worrisome and something i have to work on mobility wise before i can incorporate them in to my program, but I do leg press and Bulgarian split squats and I've noticed some pretty decent quad growth.

Love the Mountain Dog cameo! R.I.P.

At my age and with the pains I have now. Plus I am fairly weak on barbell squats. I have to make use of more machines. Plus I can go heavier on the machines.

Personally whenever I do hack squat or traditional leg press machines I feel like it’s rly hard whenever I change direction but after that I push the weight without any struggle The pendulum ones however don’t seem to have this problem whatsoever and feel like a squat without the core stability

A few years ago I would have vehemently disagreed but I've used machines in my training a lot more recently and wholeheartedly agree.

Eugene what do u say/thinks about Lou Simmons Belt squat machine?

Hi, what is the name/brand of the device used for squat (on the shoulders)?

What nike's were you wearing during your leg pressing movements?

I use them but my gym doesn’t have a pendulum squat so I only use a hack squat and leg press I still start out with a squat variations, first day is a Bulgarian split squat and second is a front squat but machines have allowed me to push harder One thing on the leg press is that most people don’t go as deep as they could on, since I started the ATG style leg press it feels so much better than the half repping more people do

I do hack squats on an incline smith machine and they are great

I love legs machines, i tend to do more volume with them as i can push my self harder then on free weights barbell squats

Hello Mr Teo. I've been using the Leg Press Machine for a long time now, but there are some people who say that since the back is fixed on a pad, performing leg presses on a machine can lead to lower back problems. Any truth to this statement?

If you have a power rack at home guys, you can DIY a belt squat set-up with just the bar, spotter arms/safety pins, and j-hook. There's a video demonstration on KZfaq on how to do it. Just look it up. It only takes less than 5 minutes to set-up.

I would love to do hack squats or something like that but the only leg press my gym has is built in a way where your legs are in the air so i always almost pass out when doing the exercise

What brand is that leg press machine? Never saw it..

Nice shoe uncle Eugene!

whats the smoothest hack squat - least strain on knee?

One thing I like about free weight squats vs. the rest is the ability to rotate at the hips/waist. Hack squats and leg presses lock in your upper body by design, which can put added strain on the lower back.

The most uncommon squat machine in my gym is pendelum squat but we don't even have the hack squat one.

What fancy schmancy gym do you go to? I have never seen these ever!

I want to try the hex squad machine now, but im doing cali 😩

I honestly wish I had more leg masculines at my gyms. For me, and being older, I prefer machines so I save my joints. Now I only use dumbbells for minor leg exercises.

I get sore knees from doing the hacksquat machine. Adjusted my feet position many times but still getting sore knees.

Which machine is easiest on the low back, Swing Squat or Pendulum Squat aka TruSquat?

The belt squat machine is pretty cool but not a lot of places have them.

I guess it's somewhere in between a free weight and a machine, but a Landmine Squat gives you that effect of the movement becoming more difficult as you get closer to the top.

Leverage squat machine works mostly your glutes while hack squat machine works mostly your quads.

Eugene - you are using the Medx Avenger leg press as an example of a leg press that is hardest at the bottom and easiest at the top of the squat pattern. Yet, it actually is hardest at the top (when knees are extended) and easiest at the bottom (when knees are flexed). I have tried the machine and it definitely feels this way. The leverage of the weight horn moving in space is only one part of the equation - it uses a 4-bar linkage design, and you can see that the machine actually has maximum mechanical advantage over you the further you move the foot-plate away (i.e. when your knees are straight).

I thing machines are a good addition to free weights and the other way around. Just like you said, with machines you can safely push yourself to your max.

Swing squat looks wild 😳

After I nearly fell backwards twice on barbell squats I've been using the safety squat machine. I have Dyspraxia and ADHD so my balance isn't the best anyway, never mind 50kg on my shoulders.

What is the name of that leg press at 0:22 omg i need that!

Where the hell do you find this amount of squat machines? I have literally never seen half of the machines you have shown in this video.

Good luck finding those machines in most gyms. Been going to gyms for over 20 years, and the leg press is about all you're getting around here.

What’s the second machines ( leg press) name and model?

Hack squats hurt my knees really bad. I'm only able to do traditional leg press

I'm a true beginner (2 months or so into beginning working out. I'm 24). Do you think there is something to be said for doing free-weight squats in terms of building up posterior chain and stabilizing muscles etc etc. Or should I begin doing leg presses and hack squats (I am very skinny and want to avoid injury). Thanks in advance Eugene you earned my sub

Yes but a I have none of them at my gym and b nothing and I am nothing beats the feeling of having more than double bodyweight on your back and squatting with good form and depth.

See, I’ve been trying to do barbell squats I can handle the squat what hurts me is adjusting my shoulder mobility to grab the bar and put it on my back. It just doesn’t feel right that’s what hurts me. I don’t know if there’s a problem with my shoulder or something but it just doesn’t feel right, what should I do should I do some other kind of exercises or dumbbell squats pretty good cause I don’t go to the gym so I can buy some free weights

Specificity. That's really the thing you need to keep in mind here. Why are you working out. The functional strength work of a free weight squat will never be replaced by a leg press. Accessorized though, absolutely. And if your goal is just hypertrophy, it all comes out very differently.

The MedX Avenger leg press is fire! How did you like the Marrs Bar compared to a regular safety squat bar?

Thanks to that man Meadows, I found you a while back. Cheers and RIP to the goat 🙏🏻

What about the linear hack press?

Mr.Eugene is there any specific type of shoe that u recommend for training?

what’s the name of those shoes u got on?

John Meadows in the cut!!! ❤️🙏💯

Some thoughts: (feel free to agree or disagree and mention why) - Machines may provide a better STF ratio and are in general better for muscle fiber recruitment in your desired area (you can push hard without worrying about stability requirements) - Free weights allow your body to move in a more natural range of motion, however lacks training your muscles in various ranges of motion/strength curves. Bands or chains can assist with this issue. - Some benefits of free weights are it builds up more overall body strength and trains your stabilizers during the movement. If you don't train your stabilizers at all, this can lead to injuries and issues down the road. Though machines may provide a better stimulus, they either don't activate your stabilizers or don't activate to the same extent of free weights. - A big benefit of machines is there is less chance of injury throughout the whole course of the exercise I think both should be incorporated (for example splits/periodisation) to reap maximum benefit and reduce the chance of injuries down the road . Of course something like powerlifting would mainly revolve around free weights.

I tore something in my lower abs and/or psoas (idk for sure) doing leg press at hard intensity. Still bothering me, very slow to heal. Every exercise has its dangers...

Sure if you have a good leg press machine it could be better for quadriceps hypertrophy. But the ass-to-grass free-weight squat is superior for strength, athleticism and mobility.

Unless I get a spine replacement free weight and smith squats are off the table. *leg press and my 10-21.5k runs 3xs a week it is 😊

Depends what you're training for - barbell squats improve balance, posture, core strength and over all strength -and whereas squats will make you stronger on a leg press, I'm not sure (based on my own experience), that leg presses make you a better squatter

I'm fairly new to the gym and I think leg press is great. I've been hesitant to add more than 40 kg to squats since my technique and mobility is limited. On leg press, I lifted 100 kgs without having to worry about hurting myself. That's also sure to build more muscle because the sheer volume is much bigger.

Wouldn’t the weight on the pendulum squat maintain always at the same distance from the pivot point? I mean is a pendulum and the radius is the same always

I personally love Belt Squats 👍

Actually the doing the Hack Squat is harder at the bottom and easier at the top. Not because how the machine is built, because the resistance profile of the machine is equal through the entire movement, but in the bottom position you are pushing your back into the sled with your legs more horizontally in the bottom and more vertically at the top, making it harder to push the weight in the bottom. Also missed your opinions on the V Squat is which is even more common than the Pendulum Squat.

Hope you are healing up quickly boss. I have been looking into a leg device for the garage gym as barbell back squats are getting a bit stale stimulus wise. Considering a safety squat bar for variation and a belt squat device. If you had to choose one leg device what would you choose, Eugene? Hack squat, leg press, pendulum squat ?

Wish my gym had these machines

wow this is a fancy gym, mine doesn't have half this stuff.