Pistol Squat vs Seated Calf Raise
Maximizing Your Leg Workout Plan
Contents
Planfit users log Seated Calf Raise more often — 191 sessions vs 86. Compare Leg form, muscles worked, and when to use each.
Customize Your Leg Workout: Explore the Benefits of Pistol Squat and Seated Calf Raise for Better Comparison.
Planfit Users' Choice about Pistol Squat vs Seated Calf Raise : Which is Better?
Based on randomly selected data from 1 million completed workouts, Planfit users log Seated Calf Raise more often — 191 sessions compared to 86 for Pistol Squat.
Popularity is not the whole answer. Pistol Squat and Seated Calf Raise differ in the muscles they load, the equipment they need, and how hard they are to learn — the comparison below covers each.
How Pistol Squat and Seated Calf Raise Differ
| What differs | Pistol Squat | Seated Calf Raise |
|---|---|---|
| Muscles worked | quads, hamstrings, and glutes | calves |
| Equipment | bodyweight only | a barbell |
| One side at a time | Yes | No |
| Difficulty | 5 of 5 | 5 of 5 |
| Sessions logged by Planfit users | 86 sessions | 191 sessions |
How to Pistol Squat
Pistol Squat muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Lower your leg lifted off the ground until it is parallel to the floor.
- 2. As your hips rise, straighten your knees and hip joints in sequence, and return to the starting position.
- 3. Proceed one side at a time or alternately.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to excessively lean your upper body 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 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 Pistol Squat, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Pistol Squat Guide page of our blog!
How to Seated Calf Raise
Seated Calf Raise muscles worked: Leg
Form
- 1. Please raise your heels as high as possible to contract your calf muscles.
- 2. While resisting the weight, please stop so that your heels do not touch the ground.
Coach's Comment
- 1. Please be careful not to let your knees spread apart.
- 2. Keep your chest up and engage your core to avoid bending your waist.
If you want to know a detailed guide to Seated Calf Raise, alternative exercises, and its benefits, check it out here. Check out the Seated Calf Raise Guide page of our blog!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for Leg, Pistol Squat or Seated Calf Raise?
Planfit users log Seated Calf Raise more often — 191 sessions against 86 for Pistol Squat. Both train Leg, so pick the one that matches the equipment you have and the muscles you want to load.
Do Pistol Squat and Seated Calf Raise work the same muscles?
Not quite. Pistol Squat loads quads, hamstrings, and glutes, and Seated Calf Raise loads calves.
What equipment do Pistol Squat and Seated Calf Raise need?
Pistol Squat needs bodyweight only, and Seated Calf Raise needs a barbell.
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