10 Best Zercher Squats Alternatives for Quad Strength
Zercher Squats are done standing with a barbell. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Standing Long Jump.
Updated Ranked by our 12-factor similarity model How it works
Original Exercise: Zercher Squats
- Primary muscle
- Quadriceps
- Equipment
- Barbell
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Type
- Compound
Secondary muscles: Calves, Glutes, Hamstrings
How to perform Zercher Squats
- This exercise is best performed inside a squat rack for safety purposes. To begin, first set the bar on a rack that best matches your height. The correct height should be anywhere above the waist but below the chest. Once the correct height is chosen and the bar is loaded, lock your hands together and place the bar on top of your arms in between the forearm and upper arm.
- Lift the bar up so that it is resting on top of your forearms. If you are holding the bar properly, it should look as if you have your arms crossed but with a bar running across them.
- Step away from the rack and position your legs using a shoulder width medium stance with the toes slightly pointed out. Keep your head up at all times as looking down will get you off balance and also maintain a straight back. This will be your starting position. (Note: For the purposes of this discussion we will use the medium stance described above which targets overall development; however you can choose any of the three stances discussed in the foot stances section).
- Begin to lower the bar by bending the knees as you maintain a straight posture with the head up. Continue down until the angle between the upper leg and the calves becomes slightly less than 90-degrees (which is the point in which the upper legs are below parallel to the floor). Inhale as you perform this portion of the movement. Tip: If you performed the exercise correctly, the front of the knees should make an imaginary straight line with the toes that is perpendicular to the front. If your knees are past that imaginary line (if they are past your toes) then you are placing undue stress on the knee and the exercise has been performed incorrectly.
- Begin to raise the bar as you exhale by pushing the floor with the ball of your foot mainly as you straighten the legs again and go back to the starting position.
- Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.
Ranked Zercher Squats Alternatives
10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches Zercher Squats on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Open "How to perform this exercise" on a card for the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.
Best match 
1. Standing Long Jump
70% match- Quadriceps
- Bodyweight
- Advanced
- Compound
Use this when you have nothing to train with, because it works the quadriceps with bodyweight alone.
How to perform this exercise
- This drill is best done in sand or other soft landing surface. Ensure that you are able to measure distance. Stand in a partial squat stance with feet shoulder width apart.
- Utilizing a big arm swing and a countermovement of the legs, jump forward as far as you can.
- Attempt to land with your feet out in front you, reaching as far as possible with your legs.
- Measure the distance from your landing point to the starting point and track results.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: quadriceps, the same as Zercher Squats
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: standing, the same as Zercher Squats
2. Bodyweight Squatting Row
64% match- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Beginner
- Compound
A looser match: it works the lats rather than the quadriceps.
How to perform this exercise
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding onto a sturdy object or suspension trainer with your arms extended.
- Lower your body into a squat position, keeping your back straight and your knees behind your toes.
- From the squat position, pull your body up towards the object or suspension trainer, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
- Pause for a moment at the top, then slowly lower your body back down to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, not quadriceps
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: standing, the same as Zercher Squats
3. Squat To Overhead Reach
63% match- Quads
- Bodyweight
- Beginner
- Compound
A looser match: it works the quads rather than the quadriceps.
How to perform this exercise
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and toes slightly turned out.
- Lower your body down into a squat position by bending your knees and pushing your hips back.
- As you come up from the squat, extend your arms overhead, reaching towards the ceiling.
- Return to the starting position by lowering your arms and bending your knees to squat down again.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: quads, not quadriceps
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: standing, the same as Zercher Squats
- Quads
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and toes slightly turned out.
- Lower your body into a squat position by bending your knees and pushing your hips back.
- As you come up from the squat, raise your arms overhead and twist your torso to one side.
- Return to the starting position and repeat the squat, this time twisting your torso to the opposite side.
- Continue alternating sides with each squat repetition.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: quads, not quadriceps
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: standing, the same as Zercher Squats
- Lats
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a towel in front of you with your palms facing down.
- Bend your knees and lower your body into a squat position, keeping your back straight and your chest up.
- As you lower into the squat, simultaneously pull the towel towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
- Pause for a moment at the bottom of the squat, then slowly return to the starting position while extending your arms.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: lats, not quadriceps
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: standing, the same as Zercher Squats
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than Zercher Squats
6. Bodyweight Squat
60% match- Quads
- Bodyweight
- Beginner
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. You can place your hands behind your head. This will be your starting position.
- Begin the movement by flexing your knees and hips, sitting back with your hips.
- Continue down to full depth if you are able,and quickly reverse the motion until you return to the starting position. As you squat, keep your head and chest up and push your knees out.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: quads, not quadriceps
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: standing, the same as Zercher Squats
- Balance: easier to stay steady on than Zercher Squats
7. Semi Squat Jump
59% match- Quads
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Bend your knees and lower your body into a squat position.
- Jump explosively, extending your hips and knees while swinging your arms for momentum.
- Land softly on the balls of your feet and immediately go into the next repetition.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: quads, not quadriceps
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: standing, the same as Zercher Squats
8. Bodyweight Drop Jump Squat
59% match- Glutes
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Lower your body into a squat position by bending your knees and pushing your hips back.
- Jump up explosively, extending your hips, knees, and ankles.
- While in mid-air, quickly bring your feet together.
- Land softly on the balls of your feet and immediately drop back into a squat position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: glutes, not quadriceps
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: standing, the same as Zercher Squats
- Balance: harder to stay steady on than Zercher Squats
9. Jump Squat
59% match- Glutes
- Bodyweight
- Intermediate
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
- Lower your body into a squat position by bending your knees and pushing your hips back.
- Jump explosively off the ground, extending your hips, knees, and ankles.
- While in mid-air, quickly bring your arms forward for balance.
- Land softly on the balls of your feet and immediately go into the next repetition.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: glutes, not quadriceps
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: standing, the same as Zercher Squats
10. Potty Squat
57% match- Abs
- Bodyweight
- Beginner
- Compound
How to perform this exercise
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, toes pointing slightly outward.
- Lower your body down by bending your knees and pushing your hips back as if you were sitting on a chair.
- Keep your chest up and your back straight throughout the movement.
- Lower yourself until your thighs are parallel to the ground or as low as you can comfortably go.
- Pause for a moment at the bottom, then push through your heels to return to the starting position.
- Repeat for the desired number of repetitions.
Sets and reps: 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps, and add reps before you add load.
Why this matches
- Primary muscle: abs, not quadriceps
- Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
- Body position: standing, the same as Zercher Squats
- Balance: easier to stay steady on than Zercher Squats
Why You Might Need a Zercher Squats Alternative
Zercher Squats ask you to lock your hands together and cradle a loaded bar in the crook of your elbows, and that hold is often the first thing to fail before your legs do. A busy squat rack also makes the Zercher setup harder, since you are fighting for a bar everyone else wants for a back squat. Most of these swaps move the bar onto your upper back, hang it from your hands at arm's length, or rack a pair of kettlebells at your shoulders, so your legs still do the squatting and your arms only have to hold on. Two of them put the bar across the back of your shoulders and set your feet closer or wider than the shoulder-width Zercher stance, and one drops the bar for kettlebells.
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