Hamstring exercises

Barbell Good Morning

Also known as: Good morning à la barre · Καλημέρες με μπάρα · good mornings

Primary
Hamstrings
Equipment
Barbell
Level
Intermediate
Type
Compound
Suggested rest
1.5 min

How to do the Barbell Good Morning

  1. Place a light bar on your upper back and stand with feet hip-width apart.

  2. Bend your knees slightly and brace your core.

  3. Push your hips back and bend forward with a flat back until your torso approaches horizontal.

  4. Stand up by driving your hips forward.

Sets and reps

GoalSetsRepsRest
Muscle growth3–48–121.5 min
Muscular endurance2–315–201 min

When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add 2.5 kg (5 lb) next session and work back up.

Starting points from training research. Stop each set 1–3 reps short of failure.

Muscles worked

Primary

Hamstrings

Secondary

Glutes, Lower back

The hamstrings bend the knee and extend the hip, so train both: hinges like Romanian deadlifts and leg curls.

Alternatives

Same muscles, similar movement: swap in one of these if the Barbell Good Morning doesn’t suit your gym or your joints.

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Barbell hamstring exercises