11/05/2026
Your first rep on a hack squat tells me everything I need to know about how you train legs.
Save this video so you stop repeating the same mistakes.
I can tell how experienced you are from your first set alone.
Before I even care about how much weight you can move, I’m looking at how you set up.
First thing: foot position.
I want my feet low enough on the platform that I can keep pressure through the front half of my foot WITHOUT my heels lifting.
Second: bracing.
Before I unrack the weight, my core is locked in, ribs down, driven hard into the pad, ready to support the load.
Third: breathing rhythm.
Big breath at the top.�Hold it on the way down.�Drive the air out as I push up.
And repeat that exact rhythm every rep.
Too many people walk into a set thinking:�“I need to get 10 reps.”
Wrong mindset.
You should be thinking:�“I need to perform 10 GOOD reps.”
A good set is standardised.
Every rep looks the same.�Every rep is controlled.�Every rep is braced.�Every rep has intention.
I’m not focused on surviving the set.
I’m focused on making THIS rep as good as possible.
Then comes knee position.
If the weight is too heavy, your knees will usually cave in and positioning breaks down.
I want my knees tracking in line with my toes, and my toes in line with my shoulders.
If you can’t maintain that position consistently…
Strip the weight back.