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Sled Hack Squat
A machine squat on an angled sled that keeps the torso supported so the quads take most of the load with minimal spinal demand.
LegsMachineSquat
GoLightWeight mediasled-hack-squat
Demonstration coming soon
Primary
Quadriceps
Secondary
GlutesAdductorsHamstringsCalves
Equipment
Machine
Pattern
Squat
Setup
- 01Set the shoulder pads so you can stand tall under them without hunching.
- 02Step onto the platform and place feet about shoulder width, slightly forward of the hips.
- 03Press your back and hips flat against the sled pad.
- 04Unrack by standing up and releasing the safety handles.
Execution
- 01Brace and bend the knees to lower the sled under control.
- 02Descend until the thighs reach at least parallel to the platform.
- 03Keep knees tracking in line with the toes throughout.
- 04Drive through the whole foot to press back to a soft lockout.
Checkpoints
- -Lower back and hips stay in contact with the pad.
- -Heels stay flat on the platform.
- -Depth is consistent from rep to rep.
- -Knees do not cave inward out of the bottom.
Common mistakes
- -Placing the feet too low on the platform and stressing the knees.
- -Letting the hips lift off the pad in the bottom position.
- -Slamming into lockout with fully snapped knees.
- -Cutting depth as the sets get heavier.
Programming notes
- -Use 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps as a primary quad builder.
- -Higher rep sets of 12 to 20 work well since the trunk is not the limiter.
- -Slot it after free-weight squats or as the main lower-body press on machine days.
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