Exercise guide · Advanced · Compound

Barbell Zercher Squat: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The barbell Zercher squat is a lower body exercise where the barbell is held in the crooks of the elbows, emphasizing the glutes, quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, and core. It requires significant core stability, upper body strength, and proper squat mechanics.

Primary muscles
Glutes
Equipment
Barbell
Level · type
Advanced · Compound
Demonstration of the barbell zercher squat
Front view: muscles worked by the barbell zercher squat. Primary: glutes. Secondary: quads, abs, obliques, hamstrings and calves.
Back view: muscles worked by the barbell zercher squat. Primary: glutes. Secondary: quads, abs, obliques, hamstrings and calves.
Primary Secondary

How to do the barbell zercher squat

  1. Step 1: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and toes slightly turned out.
  2. Step 2: Hold the barbell in the crooks of your elbows, with your hands gripping the bar for stability.
  3. Step 3: Engage your core and keep your chest lifted as you lower your hips back and down into a squat position.
  4. Step 4: Keep your knees in line with your toes and your weight in your heels.
  5. Step 5: Pause for a moment at the bottom of the squat, then push through your heels to return to the starting position.
  6. Step 6: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the barbell zercher squat by training goal
Goal Sets Reps Rest Effort
Strength 3–5 3–6 3–5 min 1–3 reps in reserve
Muscle growth 3–4 6–12 2–3 min 1–2 reps in reserve
Muscular endurance 2–3 12–20 1–2 min 1–3 reps in reserve

Ranges follow the ACSM position stand on progression in resistance training. Muscle grows across a wide range of loads when sets end close to failure (Schoenfeld et al., 2017), longer rests between heavy sets support strength and size (Schoenfeld et al., 2016), and stopping a rep or two short of failure works about as well as training to failure (Grgic et al., 2022). Estimate your working weights with the strength calculators.

Barbell Zercher Squat alternatives

More exercises that train the glutes as their main target:

More glutes exercises

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Sources

  1. American College of Sports Medicine. Progression models in resistance training for healthy adults. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009;41(3):687-708.
  2. Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Strength and hypertrophy adaptations between low- vs. high-load resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2017;31(12):3508-3523.
  3. Schoenfeld BJ, Pope ZK, Benik FM, et al. Longer interset rest periods enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res. 2016;30(7):1805-1812.
  4. Grgic J, Schoenfeld BJ, Orazem J, Sabol F. Effects of resistance training performed to repetition failure or non-failure on muscular strength and hypertrophy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sport Health Sci. 2022;11(2):202-211.

Step-by-step instructions and demonstration media are from the ExerciseDB exercise dataset.

This guide is general fitness information, not medical advice. Stop if an exercise causes pain and speak to a doctor or physiotherapist about injuries or health conditions before starting a new programme.