Bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler may have retired, but he still treats working out like his day job. On Feb. 28, 2026, he explained how to use the leg press to build championship-level quads, focusing on detail, size, and shape.
“The leg press was a foundation for my championship legs. Set your feet lower on the platform to drive tension into the frontal quads and build that thick, sweeping look from the front.”
Leg training wasn’t just a test of grit for Cutler; it became his hidden weapon to thrive in the Open class. After a handful of runner-up finishes to Ronnie Coleman at Mr. Olympia, Cutler found the winning formula in 2006. He dethroned “The King,” making it the dawn of a new era.
However, Cutler failed to defend his title in 2008 against Dexter Jackson. This motivated him to bring unprecedented leg detail to the stage a year later, where he etched his name into history with his iconic quad stomp. He hasn’t forgotten how he built such a formidable lower body and is sharing secrets with his growing fan base.
Jay Cutler’s Guide to Leg Pressing for Detail, Size, and Shape
In the video, Cutler shared that the leg press machine helped him sculpt the best legs possible, from detail and shape to size.
“On the Olympia stage, I had some of the best legs, detail, size, and shape. One of the exercises I performed most of the time was the leg press. To build the frontal quads, you want to have lower foot placement on the platform.”
To bias the quads most, he said to position the feet shoulder-width apart. In contrast, to hit the hamstrings more effectively, he shared that a wider foot placement is optimal.
“Put your feet at shoulder width, sometimes a little closer, sometimes a little wider if you want to target the hamstrings. If we’re focusing on the quads, you really want to have that lower foot placement on the platform.”
Cutler warned that depth is paramount for progress because it allows the lifter to achieve a full contraction and activate the deepest muscle fibers.
“Your depth: Remember, you have to go down enough to get the full contraction to hit the deepest fibers. Of course, everything is done with 12 repetitions.”
This hasn’t been Jay’s first time dropping knowledge on the leg press. He recently highlighted three common mistakes that could be hampering your progress. He specified that most lifters struggle with proper foot placement on the platform, depth, and rep tempo.
As one of the most decorated Olympia champs of all-time, Cutler always offers his fans valuable training wisdom. He credits the leg press machine for helping him build his championship-caliber legs that are still on display at 52 years old.
RELATED: Jay Cutler Shows Off Current Workout Routine for Bigger Arms
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