Barbell Wide Squat vs Zercher Squat

Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan

Contents

Planfit users log Barbell Wide Squat more often — 388 sessions vs 21. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Barbell Wide Squat and Zercher Squat for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Barbell Wide Squat vs Zercher Squat : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Barbell Wide Squat more often — 388 sessions compared to 21 for Zercher Squat.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Barbell Wide Squat and Zercher Squat differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.

How Barbell Wide Squat and Zercher Squat Differ

What differsBarbell Wide SquatZercher Squat
Muscles workedglutes, hamstrings, and inner thighsquads, hamstrings, and glutes
Difficulty4 of 55 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users388 sessions21 sessions

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How to Barbell Wide Squat

Barbell Wide Squat gif

Barbell Wide Squat muscles worked: Leg

Form

  1. 1. Tighten your abdomen and keep your waist straight, then bend at the hip to lower your buttocks down.
  2. 2. Lower yourself until your knees naturally bend and your thighs are parallel to the ground.
  3. 3. Push strongly through the center of your feet to rise up.
  4. 4. As your buttocks rise, straighten your knees and hips in sequence, returning to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to lean your upper body too far forward.
  2. 2. Keep your chest up and engage your core to avoid bending your waist.
  3. 3. Don't excessively bend your waist while trying to keep it straight.
  4. 4. Please do not stick your hips too far back.
  5. 5. Make sure your feet do not come off the ground.
  6. 6. When standing up, please ensure your knees do not come together.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Barbell Wide Squat, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Barbell Wide Squat Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Barbell Wide Squat methods?Exercise Guide

How to Zercher Squat

Zercher Squat gif

Zercher Squat muscles worked: Leg

Form

  1. 1. Tighten your abdomen and keep your waist straight, then bend at the hip joint to lower your hips down.
  2. 2. Naturally bend your knees and lower yourself until your thighs are parallel to the ground.
  3. 3. Push strongly through the center of your feet to rise up.
  4. 4. As your hips rise, straighten your knees and hip joints in sequence, and return to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to lean your upper body too far forward.
  2. 2. Keep your chest up and engage your core to avoid bending your waist.
  3. 3. Don't excessively bend your waist while trying to keep it straight.
  4. 4. Please do not stick your hips too far back.
  5. 5. Make sure your feet do not come off the ground.
  6. 6. When standing up, please ensure your knees do not come together.

If you want to know a detailed guide to Zercher Squat, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Zercher Squat Guide page of our blog!

Do you want to know more about Zercher Squat methods?Exercise Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Leg, Barbell Wide Squat or Zercher Squat?

Planfit users log Barbell Wide Squat more often — 388 sessions against 21 for Zercher Squat. Both train Leg, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.

Do Barbell Wide Squat and Zercher Squat work the same muscles?

Not quite. Barbell Wide Squat loads glutes, hamstrings, and inner thighs, and Zercher Squat loads quads, hamstrings, and glutes.

What equipment do Barbell Wide Squat and Zercher Squat need?

Barbell Wide Squat needs a barbell, and Zercher Squat needs a barbell.

Which is easier to start with?

Barbell Wide Squat is the easier place to start. Move to Zercher Squat once your form holds up.

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