Exercise guide · Intermediate · Compound

Bodyweight Drop Jump Squat: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The bodyweight drop jump squat is a plyometric exercise targeting the glutes, with secondary emphasis on the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. It involves explosive jumping and rapid foot movement, challenging coordination, power, and lower body strength.

Primary muscles
Glutes
Secondary muscles
Hamstrings , Quads , Calves
Equipment
Body Weight
Level · type
Intermediate · Compound
Demonstration of the bodyweight drop jump squat
Front view: muscles worked by the bodyweight drop jump squat. Primary: glutes. Secondary: hamstrings, quads and calves.
Back view: muscles worked by the bodyweight drop jump squat. Primary: glutes. Secondary: hamstrings, quads and calves.
Primary Secondary

How to do the bodyweight drop jump squat

  1. Step 1: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
  2. Step 2: Lower your body into a squat position by bending your knees and pushing your hips back.
  3. Step 3: Jump up explosively, extending your hips, knees, and ankles.
  4. Step 4: While in mid-air, quickly bring your feet together.
  5. Step 5: Land softly on the balls of your feet and immediately drop back into a squat position.
  6. Step 6: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the bodyweight drop jump 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.

Bodyweight Drop Jump 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.