How to do a Pause Back Squat
Reviewed by Jim Parker, CPT, B.A. Kinesiology
About Pause Back Squat
Barbells
Squat Rack
Workouts with Pause Back Squat
Target muscles worked
Instructions for Proper Form
Intensifies the traditional back squat by incorporating a pause at the bottom of the squat, targeting the glutes, quads, and hamstrings. This variation increases time under tension, improving muscle strength and depth control. Ideal for athletes and lifters looking to enhance their squat technique and build lower body power, the pause back squat challenges stability and promotes muscle engagement throughout the entire range of motion.
- Stand upright with your feet shoulder width apart while placing a barbell across your upper back at the base of your neck and grabbing the barbell with an overhand grip. Bend your hips and knees to descend into a squat until your thighs reach parallel with the floor keeping your spine neutral. Hold the bottom position for 1 to 2 seconds before returning to the starting position.
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Alternative Exercises to Pause Back Squat
1. Back Squat
99.3 mSCORESWAPPED 1,129 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. Leg Extension
99.4 mSCORESWAPPED 433 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
3. Leg Press
99.7 mSCORESWAPPED 385 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. Hack Squat
90.1 mSCORESWAPPED 299 TIMESHack Squat is a variation of squats that utilizes a specific machine to add resistance. Like other squat variations, this exercise primarily targets your quads. The use of a machine can assist you by redistricting your range of motion more than with the use of free weights, as well as adds more stability to the movement.
- Beginner
- Quads
- Hack Squat Machine
5. Machine Leg Press
95.1 mSCORESWAPPED 179 TIMESMachine Leg Press is a variation on the more standard Leg Press. Like the Leg Press, this is a compound exercise that primarily recruits the quadriceps. This is a great exercise for building strength and muscle mass in your quads. The use of a machine doesn’t change anything significant about this exercise, although your positioning may change depending on the machine you’re using.
- Beginner
- Quads
- Leg Press Machine
6. Dumbbell Squat
94.1 mSCORESWAPPED 174 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. Smith Machine Squat
94.3 mSCORESWAPPED 165 TIMESSmith Machine Squat is a variation on the more standard Squat. Like other variations, this is a compound exercise that primarily targets your quads. The use of a Smith Machine restricts your range of motion, and adds significantly more stability to the movement. This makes this exercise a great choice for learning proper squat mechanics, and developing strength in your lower body.
- Beginner
- Quads
- Smith Machine
8. Dumbbell Lunge
97.6 mSCORESWAPPED 163 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.
9. Front Squat
93.4 mSCORESWAPPED 160 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.
10. Dumbbell Goblet Squat
87.9 mSCORESWAPPED 135 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.