Quad exercises

Pistol Squat

Also known as: Squat pistol · Πιστόλι · pistol · single leg squat · one-leg squat

Primary
Quads
Equipment
Bodyweight
Type
Compound
Suggested rest
1.5 min
 
One side at a time

How to do the Pistol Squat

  1. Stand on one leg with the other straight out in front and your arms forward for balance.

  2. Lower slowly as deep as you can on the standing leg, keeping the free leg off the floor.

  3. Keep your heel down and your knee tracking over your foot.

  4. Push back up, finish your reps, then switch legs.

Sets and reps

GoalSetsRepsRest
Muscle growth3–46–151.5 min
Muscular endurance2–315–201 min

When you hit the top of the rep range on every set, add a rep or a harder variation next session.

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

Muscles worked

Primary

Quads

Secondary

Glutes, Abs

The front of your thighs straightens the knee. Squats, leg presses and lunges with deep knee bend build them; leg extensions isolate them.

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Bodyweight quad exercises