leg pressing instead of squatting. ok?

[cashmoneypimp]

i dont have much leg strength. Im doing 2 100 point plates. so its a little over 250. and I just dont have good form. i want to play football next year, and my legs are crucual. I think its justs that I dont have good squad form really. The leg press is just as good as squats, correct?

[MixmasterNash]

No.

[Beavereater]

The primary muscles worked during leg presses are the quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes. Secondarily you are working just about every part of your body but not quite to the same degree as squats.

[gcs118]

Squats are much better than the leg press. If you think form is the problem, have someone experienced give you a hand. You might be trying to start with too heavy of a weight. Go lighter, get the form down, then start packing on the pounds.

[Vido]

lol, I'd love to see the legs on the guys saying squats are soooooo much better than leg press.

Leg presses ARE A PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE SUBSTITUTE for squats. It's not like we're talking about going from squats to leg extensions here. Jesus people, use some common sense.

[MixmasterNash]

lol, I'd love to see the legs on the guys saying squats are soooooo much better than leg press.

Leg presses ARE A PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE SUBSTITUTE for squats. It's not like we're talking about going from squats to leg extensions here. Jesus people, use some common sense.

Any new trainee will be far better served for a lifetime of lifting by learning and performing squats.

Someone who wants to play football had better learn to squat.

That said, leg press is a good way to build some basic leg strength, but there's no reason not to be squatting too, even if just with light weight to learn form.

[Vido]

Any new trainee will be far better served for a lifetime of lifting by learning and performing squats.

Why?

Someone who wants to play football had better learn to squat.

I suppose, but this is a bodybuilding board and I form my answers as such.

That said, leg press is a good way to build some basic leg strength, but there's no reason not to be squatting too, even if just with light weight to learn form.

I agree that it's probably optimal to include both in your routine. However, if you have to choose one or the other, it's not a big deal.

[PizDoff]

lol, I'd love to see the legs on the guys saying squats are soooooo much better than leg press.

Right here big boy.

http://www.wannabebigforums.com/show...121#post972121

[MixmasterNash]

I suppose, but this is a bodybuilding board and I form my answers as such.

Ahem. Wanna Be Big Bodybuilding and Weightlifting Forums.

Not all of us lift to look pretty. This guy wanted to know about leg strength for football. Leg press isn't going to cut it, for a number of reasons.

[Vido]

Right here big boy.

http://www.wannabebigforums.com/show...121#post972121

I'm not sure how to respond. You have impressive calves, but average-sized thighs. If that's supposed to make me run out and do a set of squats, it's not working.

[PizDoff]

Excellent, my reverse psychology is working. I have now secured the squat rack, you can have the leg press all you desire!

[Vido]

Ahem. Wanna Be Big Bodybuilding and Weightlifting Forums.

Not all of us lift to look pretty. This guy wanted to know about leg strength for football. Leg press isn't going to cut it, for a number of reasons.

My bad, my bad. I didn't even read his initial post, just the responses.

I don't know much about training for football, but I would think squatting is more important for some positions than others, ie. lineman.

[smalls]

Ahem. Wanna Be Big Bodybuilding and Weightlifting Forums.

Not all of us lift to look pretty. This guy wanted to know about leg strength for football. Leg press isn't going to cut it, for a number of reasons.

What reasons would those be. I agree with Vido (I seem to be doing that too often, lol) For most trainees leg press's (I prefer hack squats) are just fine. I think all he needs to do is be taught propper form and start increasing his squat. But stating that leg press just wont cut it, is worse than ******ed.

[CrazyK]

What reasons would those be. I agree with Vido (I seem to be doing that too often, lol) For most trainees leg press's (I prefer hack squats) are just fine. I think all he needs to do is be taught propper form and start increasing his squat. But stating that leg press just wont cut it, is worse than ******ed.

In place of Mix I'll state some reasons. #1. A Leg Press is not going to hit your lower back, hamstrings, and core nearly as much as a Squat would. #2. The coordination it takes to perform a squat efficiently much more closely relates to actions done on a football field(Triple extension, using you feet as a base). #3. Squats are much more coorelated with football in general. I've never heard of a coach asking "How much you leg press?"

[Vido]

In place of Mix I'll state some reasons. #1. A Leg Press is not going to hit your lower back, hamstrings, and core nearly as much as a Squat would. #2. The coordination it takes to perform a squat efficiently much more closely relates to actions done on a football field(Triple extension, using you feet as a base). #3. Squats are much more coorelated with football in general. I've never heard of a coach asking "How much you leg press?"

#1 is probably pretty valid, although you can target your hams more based on your feet position on the leg press sled.

#2 is valid.

#3 is stupid. That's like saying bench press is highly correlated with overall strength because the one question EVERYONE asks is "how much do you bench?"

Like I said above though, it's really going to depend on your position. I think the difference between squats and leg presses for some positions is going to be basically negligible, whereas for others could be quite drastic.

[EviscerationX]

Proper form is very important for squats. Squats train a lot of your "stabilizer" muscles in proper form that simple leg presses can simply not accomplish. Squats help give you overall strength, which last time I checked is a good thing.

[Shane]

#1 is probably pretty valid, although you can target your hams more based on your feet position on the leg press sled.

#2 is valid.

#3 is stupid. That's like saying bench press is highly correlated with overall strength because the one question EVERYONE asks is "how much do you bench?"

Like I said above though, it's really going to depend on your position. I think the difference between squats and leg presses for some positions is going to be basically negligible, whereas for others could be quite drastic.

Your counter for #3 isn't really valid because you are countering the statement he made after the actual point of #3 which was "squats are more correlated with football in general". Which is true.

Cashmoneypimp, if you want to be an athlete then leg presses aren't as good as squats. I agree with the points CrazyK made. My own observations with myself and other athletes leads me to believe the leg press is, except for certain people, a pretty lousy primary leg exercise. I'd stick to squats, front squats, lunges, split lunges, and the Oly lifts.

[Paul Stagg]

lol, I'd love to see the legs on the guys saying squats are soooooo much better than leg press.

Leg presses ARE A PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE SUBSTITUTE for squats. It's not like we're talking about going from squats to leg extensions here. Jesus people, use some common sense.

Not for a football player.

[weightliftguy]

Not for a football player.

It depends on personal preference. If your doing a total body workout correctly, its not going to make that big of a difference. Plus, its good to build up strength on a leg press before progressing to squats. If your not very experieced working out i would do i total body workout, being sure to work all major muscle groups. The squat is one of the most difficult excersizes to perform correctly. Since the squat does use other muscles besides the legs its always good to get your entire body acustomed to heavy weights, then you can progress onward to squatting. If your just go into squatting without a good foundation its easier for injuries.

[ryuage]

what would be the point of building up strength on a leg perss before progressing to squats??

1. why cant you build leg strength using squats
2. heavy leg press doesnt always coorelate with having a heavy squat

[Vapour Trails]

I'm always found squats to be superior to leg presses.

[bill]

Well I feel squats are superior, and more help with core and coordination. But I would just tell the guy to do which ever he feels he can. Maybe leg press will be better as you can increase strength fairly easy.

[crazedwombat]

You dont need a foundation for squats. Just do it without anything to get form then add a bar then build from there...there's no prerequisite for squats...

[chris mason]

lol, I'd love to see the legs on the guys saying squats are soooooo much better than leg press.

Leg presses ARE A PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE SUBSTITUTE for squats. It's not like we're talking about going from squats to leg extensions here. Jesus people, use some common sense.

Lol, coming from the guy who "isn't interested in strength".

There is a big difference between leg presses and squats in terms of their overall effect on the body. Squats work nearly the entire body while leg presses only really effect the hips, glutes, and upper legs.

If all someone did was squat they could build a very big and strong overall physique. The same cannot be said for leg presses.

Does this mean leg presses are bad? Heck no, they are just not an acceptable replacement for squats. They can, however, be a nice addition to squats in your routine.

[Shane]

It depends on personal preference. If your doing a total body workout correctly, its not going to make that big of a difference. Plus, its good to build up strength on a leg press before progressing to squats. If your not very experieced working out i would do i total body workout, being sure to work all major muscle groups. The squat is one of the most difficult excersizes to perform correctly. Since the squat does use other muscles besides the legs its always good to get your entire body acustomed to heavy weights, then you can progress onward to squatting. If your just go into squatting without a good foundation its easier for injuries.

It would be better to start squatting with a light weight and learn proper form than to move from the leg press to the squat because. Either way, you'd have to learn proper form in the squat if you plan on using it. And since the squat is a superior exercise to leg presses for an athlete you may as well do it from the get go. A foundation of strength on the leg press wouldn't do much to help prevent injuries in the squat because more often then not injuries in the squat are the result of poor form. Plus, the lower back gets nil work from the leg press so even if his legs got stronger from doing them, once he moved on to the squat his lower back wouldn't be as well prepared.