How to do an Overhead Squat
Reviewed by Jim Parker, CPT, B.A. Kinesiology
About Overhead Squat
Workouts with Overhead Squat
Target muscles worked
Instructions for Proper Form
Strengthens the legs, core, and shoulders by squatting with the barbell held overhead. This exercise challenges balance and mobility, improving overall body strength and stability.
- Grab ahold of a barbell slightly outside shoulder-width apart before unracking it and stepping back and placing your feet just outside shoulder-width apart slightly angled out.
- Quarter squat before exploding the barbell up overhead keeping it in line with your ears.
- Keep your weight evenly distributed through your feet throughout the exercise.
- Begin to descend by reaching your hips slightly back.
- Your knees should track outward over your second toe and slightly forward as you descend while keeping your core braced to avoid any rounding in the spine.
- You should continue to descend to a deep enough depth that allows your spine to remain neutral before extending your hips and knees back to the starting position.
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Alternative Exercises to Overhead Squat
1. Back Squat
99.3 mSCORESWAPPED 39 TIMESBack Squat is one of the three Powerlifting movements, and one of the most common lower body exercises. It’s a great compound exercise that can help build strength and muscle mass in your leg, especially your quadriceps. It’s a staple in most fitness programs, and is often used as a metric for tracking lower body strength in general.
2. Front Squat
93.4 mSCORESWAPPED 28 TIMESFront Squat is one of the most common variations of the more standard Back Squat. Like other squat variations, this is a compound exercise that primarily targets your quadriceps. By racking the bar in front of your body instead of behind, you can further emphasize your quads. While the movements are fairly similar, Front Squat may translate better to applications in sports and other real world activities.
3. Leg Press
99.7 mSCORESWAPPED 26 TIMESLeg Press is a compound exercise that primarily targets the quadriceps. The exercise itself is fairly similar to a standard squat, with some key differences. The biggest of these differences is the added stability from supporting your back on the Leg Press Machine. The end result of these changes is a more stable movement that further emphasizes your quadriceps. Leg Press is an excellent exercise for anyone looking to build muscle mass or strength in their quads.
- Beginner
- Quads
- Leg Press
4. Air Squats
92.1 mSCORESWAPPED 21 TIMESAir Squats are a bodyweight variation of Squats. Like other variations, this is a compound exercise that primarily targets the quadriceps. Without any added resistance this is easily one of the most beginner friendly exercises out there. It’s a great way to start building strength, and working your way towards more advanced variations.
- Beginner
- Quads
5. Leg Extension
99.4 mSCORESWAPPED 17 TIMESLeg Extensions are an isolation exercise that target the quads. Due to a severe lack of isolation movements for the lower body, this is a great option for specifically targeting your quadriceps. The use of a machine restricts your range of motion, and adds some stability to the movement. This can help your focus more on exertion than stabilizing the movement. The downside to this exercise is that it places a lot of tension on your knee. Keep your weights light, and focus on pausing near the end of your range of motion.
- Beginner
- Quads
- Leg Extension Machine
6. Dumbbell Squat
94.1 mSCORESWAPPED 16 TIMESDumbbell Squat is a variation of the more standard Squat. Like other variations, this is a compound exercise that primarily targets the quadriceps. The advantage of using dumbbells rather than a barbell is that you have more freedom in your range of motion which can make this a more accessible variation for anyone with mobility limitations. With that freedom comes a bit more instability with this exercise though, which can help you further improve your squat for, and build the strength needed for heavier, or more complex variations.
7. Dumbbell Goblet Squat
87.9 mSCORESWAPPED 14 TIMESDumbbell Goblet Squat is a variation on the more standard Front Squat. Like other squat variations, this compound exercise primarily targets the quadriceps. Goblet squats are beneficial because they require less upper body mobility in order to keep the weight in the proper position compared to using a barbell.
8. PVC Overhead Squat
6 mSCORESWAPPED 13 TIMESPVC Overhead Squat is a variation on the more standard Overhead Squat. Like other squat variations, this compound exercise primarily targets your quadriceps. Using a PVC pipe instead of a barbell adds less weight, making this a great exercise for learning form and improving shoulder mobility without additional resistance. It's an excellent starting point for progressing to heavier overhead squats.
- Beginner
- Quads
- PVC Pipe
9. Dumbbell Lunge
97.6 mSCORESWAPPED 13 TIMESDumbbell Lunge is a variation on the more standard Lunge. Similar to other Lunge variations, Dumbbell Lunge is a compound exercise that primarily targets the quads. The exercise itself is the same as a standard lunge except for the added weight from holding dumbbells in each hand. This is a great variation for anyone looking to make their lunges a bit more challenging without adding more complexity to the movement.
10. Snatch Balance
79.7 mSCORESWAPPED 10 TIMESDevelops speed, power, and stability by dropping into a squat while pressing the barbell overhead. This exercise improves overhead squat technique and strengthens the shoulders and legs