Exercise guide · Beginner · Compound

Kettlebell Goblet Squat: How to Do It & Muscles Worked

The kettlebell goblet squat is a lower body exercise that targets the glutes while also engaging the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. It involves holding a kettlebell close to the chest and performing a squat, making it a great movement for building strength and improving squat technique.

Primary muscles
Glutes
Secondary muscles
Quads , Calves , Hamstrings
Equipment
Kettlebell
Level · type
Beginner · Compound
Demonstration of the kettlebell goblet squat
Front view: muscles worked by the kettlebell goblet squat. Primary: glutes. Secondary: quads, calves and hamstrings.
Back view: muscles worked by the kettlebell goblet squat. Primary: glutes. Secondary: quads, calves and hamstrings.
Primary Secondary

How to do the kettlebell goblet squat

  1. Step 1: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a kettlebell close to your chest with both hands.
  2. Step 2: Keeping your chest up and core engaged, lower your body down into a squat position by bending at the knees and hips.
  3. Step 3: Continue lowering until your thighs are parallel to the ground, or as low as you can comfortably go.
  4. Step 4: Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push through your heels to return to the starting position.
  5. Step 5: Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

Sets, reps and programming

Suggested sets, reps and rest for the kettlebell goblet 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.

Kettlebell Goblet 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.