What are Zercher squats good for?

What are Zercher squats good for?

The Zercher squat is a squat style that can build serious upper back strength, thoracic spine integrity, and increase quadriceps and glute development.

Why is it called zercher squat?

The Zercher squat is named after its creator Ed Zercher, a strongman and power lifter from the 1930s. Apparently Zercher’s home gym resembled a junkyard more than a workout area, and was filled with toys such as anvils, wrecking balls and other assorted pieces of machinery.

Are Zercher squats better than regular squats?

From experience, the Zercher also works great for lifters with longer limbs to hit the quads. For them, the Zercher will in fact be more effective than the back squat to focus on quadriceps development.

Do Zercher squats work glutes?

3 – Increased glute and quad work The Zercher squat is the squat variation that allows you to go the deepest. Yes, even deeper than the front squat. That makes it a great movement to build the quads and glutes. But it’s also a very solid assistance exercise to increase your strength out of the hole in the squat.

What exercises improve squats?

The 20 exercises to help you improve squat strength are:

• Front Squats.
• Leg Press.
• Split Squats.
• Goblet Squat.
• Lunges.
• Barbell Hip Thrusts.
• Sumo Deadlifts.
• Belt Squats.

Do Zercher squats work quads?

The zercher squat works the quads, glutes, and hamstrings via the abductors. Additionally, it provides a greater amount of work to the biceps, upper back and abdominals. The front squat, the focus remains on the following muscle groups: the quads, glutes, and adductors (a hamstring muscle).

Is zercher squat better than back squat?

The Zercher squat is more of a knee-dominant exercise, whereas the back squat is more of a hip-dominant exercise. As such, the Zercher squat will emphasize the quad muscles and the back squat will emphasize the glute muscles.

Is Zercher squat harder than front squat?

The Zercher squat requires the lifter to wedge the barbell in the crooks of their elbows using a half-bicep-curl position, placing the bar close to the lifter’s sternum. It is much harder on the arms to hold the barbell in place while squatting when compared with the front squat.

Can I replace back squat with Zercher squat?

No, you cannot replace the Zercher squat with the back squat. The Zercher squat is more of a knee-dominant exercise, whereas the back squat is more of a hip-dominant exercise. As such, the Zercher squat will emphasize the quad muscles and the back squat will emphasize the glute muscles.