The goblet squat doesn’t get the popularity it deserves.
Whereas it might not will let you raise as heavy as different squat variations, it’s a extremely efficient leg train with distinctive advantages.
For instance, it’s excellent for learners as a result of it’s easy to study and means that you can begin gentle and progress slowly. It’s additionally a wonderful squat variation for individuals with a historical past of accidents because it’s gentler in your joints than most different varieties of squat.
On this article, you’ll study what the dumbbell goblet squat is, its advantages, which muscle tissues it really works, learn how to do it with correct type, one of the best goblet squat alternate options, and extra.
What Is A Goblet Squat?
The goblet squat is a lower-body train that includes squatting whereas holding a dumbbell vertically in entrance of your chest, nearly such as you’re holding a goblet (therefore the title).
You should use different varieties of resistance to carry out the goblet squat, together with a kettlebell or resistance band. Nonetheless, since most individuals choose utilizing a dumbbell, the dumbbell goblet squat (or “DB goblet squat”) is the variation we’ll give attention to on this article.
Goblet Squat vs. Common Squat: Which Is Higher?
It relies upon.
The primary advantages of the goblet squat are that it’s simple to study, means that you can prepare with gentle weights, requires minimal gear, and is gentler in your joints than most different squatting workouts.
As such, the goblet squat is right for brand spanking new weightlifters, these with out entry to gymnasium gear (individuals who prepare at residence or whereas touring, for instance), and people who find themselves coaching round an harm.
That mentioned, the conventional squat means that you can prepare extra muscle tissues throughout your physique with heavier weights and progress extra commonly and in bigger increments, which suggests it’s superior for constructing muscle and energy.
In fact, there’s no purpose to incorporate simply one in every of these squat actions in your program. The very best resolution for most individuals is to do each.
A smart manner to do that is to begin your leg exercise with the barbell squat, then carry out the goblet squat later in your exercise when supporting muscle tissues like your decrease again are bushed, however your legs can in all probability handle one other few units.
That is how I personally like to arrange my coaching, and it’s much like the strategy I advocate in my health books for women and men, Bigger Leaner Stronger and Thinner Leaner Stronger.
(And if you’d like even more specific advice about what exercises to include in your training program to reach your health and fitness goals, take the Legion Strength Training Quiz, and in less than a minute, you’ll know the perfect strength training program for you. Click here to check it out.)
Goblet Squat: Benefits
1. It trains several major muscle groups.
Most people think of the goblet squat as a leg exercise.
While it’s true that the main muscles worked by the goblet squat are the quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves, it additionally trains a number of muscle teams throughout your complete physique, together with the biceps, chest, shoulders, and abs.
2. It’s simpler in your knees and again.
Research reveals that squat variations that place the load on the entrance of your physique, such because the goblet squat, place considerably much less stress in your knees and again than squat variations that place the load on the again of your physique.
This makes the goblet squat a wonderful variation for these with knee or again points.
3. It’s simple to study.
Most people think about the barbell again squat the king of squat workouts.
Nonetheless, though the barbell again squat is a wonderful lower-body train, it’s not at all times the best start line for brand spanking new weightlifters. That’s as a result of it requires a level of steadiness, coordination, flexibility, and energy that not all learners possess.
The goblet squat is an efficient workaround should you wrestle with the barbell again squat as a result of it means that you can prepare the identical muscle tissues because the again squat however with lighter weights. This makes the goblet squat a easy option to apply correct type whereas constructing your energy over time.
Goblet Squat: Muscles Worked
The goblet squat works the . . .
- Quadriceps
- Hamstrings
- Glutes
- Calves
It also trains your pecs, biceps, and shoulders to a lesser degree.
Here’s how those muscles look on your body:
Goblet Squat: Form
The best way to learn how to do a goblet squat is to split the exercise into three parts: set up, descend, and squat.
1. Set up
Stand with your feet a little wider than shoulder-width apart and your toes turned slightly out. Grip a dumbbell by one end, holding the weight vertically at chest height with your elbows tucked close to your sides.
2. Descend
Take a deep breath into your stomach, push your chest out, brace your abs, and sit down by pushing your hips backward and bending your knees at the same time.
As you descend, push your knees out in the same direction as your toes.
Keep sitting down as far as you comfortably can, ideally until your thighs are parallel to the floor or slightly lower.
3. Squat
Stand up and return to your starting position. This mirrors what you did during the descent.
Don’t let your chest fall forward or rock onto your tippy-toes—this wastes energy and makes standing up trickier.
Goblet Squat: Common Mistakes
1. Holding the weight away from your body.
Holding the weight away from your body forces your biceps, forearms, and shoulders to bear weight, which makes balancing more challenging and limits the amount of weight you can lift.
To correct this, hold the weight close to your chest with your elbows fully bent.
2. Leaning or tipping forward.
As you fatigue during a set, it’s common to allow your elbows to drop toward your sides. This can throw off your balance, and make performing the exercise with proper form difficult.
To fix this mistake, focus on driving your elbows forward, under the weight. If maintaining this position for a full set proves challenging, consider reducing the weight or work on building upper-back strength.
3. Allowing your knees to cave inward.
To prevent your knee caving inward as you squat, think about spreading the floor apart with your feet by driving your feet into the ground and away from each other (though they shouldn’t actually move).
This keeps your knees tracking in line with your toes (which is safer), increases the activation of your glutes, and enables you to lift more weight with a lower risk of pain or injury.
The Best Goblet Squat Alternatives
1. Heel-Elevated Goblet Squat
In the heel-elevated goblet squat, you elevate your heels 1-to-2 inches off the floor using a sturdy object like a weight plate, step, or squat wedge. Elevating your heels enables you to squat deeper, regardless of your ankle mobility, making the heels-elevated goblet squat a good option for those with limited lower-body flexibility.
Performing the goblet squat with elevated heels also demands more from your quads, making the heel-elevated goblet squat an excellent goblet squat variation for those seeking to maximize their quad development.
2. Kettlebell Goblet Squat
The kettlebell goblet squat (or “KB goblet squat”) is almost identical to the dumbbell goblet squat. The only difference is you hold a kettlebell by the “horns” (the vertical parts of a kettlebell handle) at chest height instead of a dumbbell.
As such, you can think of the kettlebell and dumbbell goblet squats as interchangeable—do whichever you have equipment for.
3. Sumo Goblet Squat
Many people think the sumo goblet squat is the best goblet squat for glutes because research shows squatting with a wider stance will increase glute activation. Taking a wider stance additionally allows you to squat deeper, which tends to be higher for coaching your glutes.
+ Scientific References
- Collins, Kyle S., et al. “Differences in Muscle Activity and Kinetics between the Goblet Squat and Landmine Squat in Men and Women.” Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, vol. Publish Ahead of Print, 2 Aug. 2021, https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000004094.
- Gullett, Jonathan C, et al. “A Biomechanical Comparison of Back and Front Squats in Healthy Trained Individuals.” Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, vol. 23, no. 1, Jan. 2009, pp. 284–292, journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/fulltext/2009/01000/A_Biomechanical_Comparison_of_Back_and_Front.41.aspx, https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e31818546bb.
- Paoli, Antonio, et al. “The Effect of Stance Width on the Electromyographical Activity of Eight Superficial Thigh Muscles during Back Squat with Different Bar Loads.” Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, vol. 23, no. 1, Jan. 2009, pp. 246–250, https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e3181876811. Accessed 7 May 2019.
- Larsen, Stian , et al. Effects of Stance Width and Barbell Placement on Kinematics, Kinetics, and Myoelectric Activity in Back Squats. Jan. 9AD, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2021.719013/full, https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.719013. Accessed 1 Sept. 2021.
- Lorenzetti, Silvio, et al. “How to Squat? Effects of Various Stance Widths, Foot Placement Angles and Level of Experience on Knee, Hip and Trunk Motion and Loading.” BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, vol. 10, no. 1, 17 July 2018, bmcsportsscimedrehabil.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13102-018-0103-7, https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-018-0103-7.
- Contreras, Bret, et al. “A Comparison of Gluteus Maximus, Biceps Femoris, and Vastus Lateralis Electromyography Amplitude in the Parallel, Full, and Front Squat Variations in Resistance-Trained Females.” Journal of Applied Biomechanics, vol. 32, no. 1, 2016, pp. 16–22, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26252837, https://doi.org/10.1123/jab.2015-0113.
- Kubo, Keitaro, et al. “Effects of Squat Training with Different Depths on Lower Limb Muscle Volumes.” European Journal of Applied Physiology, 22 June 2019, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04181-y.
- Marchetti, Paulo Henrique, et al. “Muscle Activation Differs between Three Different Knee Joint-Angle Positions during a Maximal Isometric Back Squat Exercise.” Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 2016, 2016, pp. 1–6, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4967668/, https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/3846123. Accessed 9 Dec. 2019.