Hammer Strength Hack Squat

[Sam Padelford]

Hey Joe,

One of the gyms near my work has the Hammer Strength “Plate Loaded Linear Hack Squat” machine which seems to place the load on the middle back rather than on the shoulders like most hack squats I’ve seen.  Should I even bother using this or should I just use a quad dominant foot position on the smith machine?

Thanks,

Sam

Attachments:

You must be logged in to view attached files.

[BryceBahm]

If this the linear hack squat I’m used to seeing, it’s got you in this slightly upright position with a degree of hip flexion to start. I don’t see anything wrong with the machine, except it’s not a traditional squat. It’s more like a leg press. It absolutely can be a quad dominant option. I personally don’t think it get the quads through quite the degree of range of motion that a traditional squat or better hack squat setup provides.

[Joe]

Sam Padelford wrote:

Hey Joe,

One of the gyms near my work has the Hammer Strength “Plate Loaded Linear Hack Squat” machine which seems to place the load on the middle back rather than on the shoulders like most hack squats I’ve seen.  Should I even bother using this or should I just use a quad dominant foot position on the smith machine?

Thanks,

Sam

It shouldn’t even be called a hack, it’s just a shitty leg press. The main goal of a “normal hack” is to train full knee flexion (lengthened quad). It’s pretty impossible to do on that piece. Yes, I’d just find another squat variation (smith or free weight).

[Author]

Posts