Barbell Speed Squat

Position feet hip-width apart. Place barbell across the upper back, resting on the trapezius muscles. Maintain a neutral spine and engage core. Bend at the knees and hips to lower the body, keeping the chest up and weight centered on the feet. Explosively drive through the heels to rise back up to the starting position. Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

How to perform the Barbell Speed Squat

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Barbell Speed Squat using your barbell.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your glutes.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your glutes rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

Build a free routine

Stage exercises here, then sign up to save them as a real Fitly routine — synced to web and mobile.

View staged routine (0)

Related exercises

0 exercises staged Save your routine — sign up free.