Front Squat vs Smith Machine Wide Squat
Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan
Contents
Smith Machine Wide Squat is the easier place to start — difficulty 4 of 5 vs 5. Compare Leg form cues and when to progress.
Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Front Squat and Smith Machine Wide Squat for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Front Squat vs Smith Machine Wide Squat : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Smith Machine Wide Squat more often — 636 sessions compared to 407 for Front Squat.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Front Squat and Smith Machine Wide Squat differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Front Squat and Smith Machine Wide Squat Differ
| What differs | Front Squat | Smith Machine Wide Squat |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | quads, hamstrings, and glutes | glutes, hamstrings, and inner thighs |
| Equipment | a barbell | a machine |
| Difficulty | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 407 sessions | 636 sessions |
How to Front Squat
Front Squat muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Tighten your abdomen and keep your waist straight, then bend at the hip to lower your buttocks down.
- 2. Allow your knees to bend naturally until your thighs are parallel to the ground.
- 3. Push strongly through the center of your feet to rise up.
- 4. As your buttocks rise, straighten your knees and hips in sequence, returning to the starting position.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to lean your upper body too far forward.
- 2. Keep your chest up and engage your core to avoid bending your back.
- 3. Don't excessively arch your back while trying to keep it straight.
- 4. Please do not stick your hips too far back.
- 5. Make sure your feet do not come off the ground.
- 6. When standing up, please ensure your knees do not come together.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Front Squat, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Front Squat Guide page of our blog!
How to Smith Machine Wide Squat
Smith Machine Wide Squat muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Tighten your abdomen and keep your waist straight, then bend at the hip joint to lower your hips down.
- 2. Allow your knees to bend naturally until your thighs are parallel to the ground.
- 3. Push strongly through the center of your feet to rise up.
- 4. As your hips rise, straighten your knees and hip joints in sequence, returning to the starting position.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to lean your upper body too far forward.
- 2. Keep your chest up and engage your core to avoid bending your waist.
- 3. Don't excessively bend your waist while trying to keep it straight.
- 4. Please do not stick your hips too far back.
- 5. Make sure your feet do not lift off the ground.
- 6. When standing up, please ensure your knees do not come together.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Smith Machine Wide Squat, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Smith Machine Wide Squat Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Front Squat or Smith Machine Wide Squat?
Neither is clearly ahead — Planfit users log both at a similar rate. They both train Leg, so the choice comes down to the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Front Squat and Smith Machine Wide Squat work the same muscles?
Not quite. Front Squat loads quads, hamstrings, and glutes, and Smith Machine Wide Squat loads glutes, hamstrings, and inner thighs.
What equipment do Front Squat and Smith Machine Wide Squat need?
Front Squat needs a barbell, and Smith Machine Wide Squat needs a machine.
Which is easier to start with?
Smith Machine Wide Squat is the easier place to start. Move to Front Squat once your form holds up.
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