Calf Raise vs Pendulum Squat
Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan
Contents
Planfit users log Calf Raise more often — 1,215 sessions vs 318. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Calf Raise and Pendulum Squat for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Calf Raise vs Pendulum Squat : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Calf Raise more often — 1,215 sessions compared to 318 for Pendulum Squat.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Calf Raise and Pendulum Squat differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Calf Raise and Pendulum Squat Differ
| What differs | Calf Raise | Pendulum Squat |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | calves, hamstrings, and glutes | quads, hamstrings, and glutes |
| Equipment | bodyweight only | a machine |
| Difficulty | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 1,215 sessions | 318 sessions |
How to Calf Raise
Calf Raise muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Please raise your heels as high as possible to contract your calf muscles.
- 2. Please hold while resisting the weight, making sure your heels do not touch the ground.
Coach's Comment
- 1. If it is difficult to maintain your balance, support yourself with your hand on a wall or object.
- 2. Since strain may be placed on your ankle or Achilles tendon (the tendon at the back of your calf and heel), do not lower yourself quickly, and if you feel pain, perform the exercise with just your body weight.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Calf Raise, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Calf Raise Guide page of our blog!
How to Pendulum Squat
Pendulum Squat muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Slowly lower yourself down into a deep squat by bending your knees and hips together.
- 2. When your thighs are parallel to the floor or lower, please pause for a moment.
- 3. Push the floor with the entire foot to straighten your legs and slowly rise back to the starting position.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to let your knees come too far inward or your toes extend too much.
- 2. Engage your core to prevent your back from excessively bending or twisting, and start with a weight that allows you to maintain proper form rather than a very heavy one.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Pendulum Squat, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Pendulum Squat Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Calf Raise or Pendulum Squat?
Planfit users log Calf Raise more often — 1,215 sessions against 318 for Pendulum Squat. Both train Leg, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Calf Raise and Pendulum Squat work the same muscles?
Not quite. Calf Raise loads calves, hamstrings, and glutes, and Pendulum Squat loads quads, hamstrings, and glutes.
What equipment do Calf Raise and Pendulum Squat need?
Calf Raise needs bodyweight only, and Pendulum Squat needs a machine.
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