Leg Curl vs Pendulum Squat

Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan

Contents

Planfit users log Leg Curl more often — 39,860 sessions vs 318. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.

Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Leg Curl and Pendulum Squat for Better Comparison.

Planfit Users' Choice about Leg Curl vs Pendulum Squat : Which is Better?

Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Leg Curl more often — 39,860 sessions compared to 318 for Pendulum Squat.

Popularity is not the whole answer. Leg Curl 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 Leg Curl and Pendulum Squat Differ

What differsLeg CurlPendulum Squat
Muscles workedhamstrings and calvesquads, hamstrings, and glutes
Machine typepin-loadedplate-loaded
Difficulty1 of 55 of 5
Sessions logged by Planfit users39,860 sessions318 sessions

Related comparisons

Not sure whether Leg Curl or Pendulum Squat fits your goal? Get a personalized plan

How to Leg Curl

Leg Curl gif

Leg Curl muscles worked: Leg

Form

  1. 1. Engage your hamstrings and glutes, and lift the ankle pads up to your hips.
  2. 2. Lower down only until your knees are fully extended against the weight resistance.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to fully extend your knees.
  2. 2. Please be careful not to lift your upper body.

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

Do you want to know more about Leg Curl methods?Exercise Guide

How to Pendulum Squat

Pendulum Squat gif

Pendulum Squat muscles worked: Leg

Form

  1. 1. Slowly lower yourself down into a deep squat by bending your knees and hips together.
  2. 2. When your thighs are parallel to the floor or lower, please pause for a moment.
  3. 3. Push the floor with the entire foot to straighten your legs and slowly rise back to the starting position.

Coach's Comment

  1. 1. Please be careful not to let your knees come too far inward or your toes extend too much.
  2. 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!

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Leg, Leg Curl or Pendulum Squat?

Planfit users log Leg Curl more often — 39,860 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 Leg Curl and Pendulum Squat work the same muscles?

Not quite. Leg Curl loads hamstrings and calves, and Pendulum Squat loads quads, hamstrings, and glutes.

What equipment do Leg Curl and Pendulum Squat need?

Leg Curl needs a machine, and Pendulum Squat needs a machine.

Which is easier to start with?

Leg Curl is the easier place to start. Move to Pendulum Squat once your form holds up.

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