Are you looking to switch up your leg day routine but struggle with finding new exercises? Look no further than the Smith Zercher squat. Many of us hit a plateau in our fitness journeys and can become bored with the same old exercises. It’s a common issue, but there’s good news: you can overcome it by incorporating unique movements like the Smith Zercher squat into your workout routine. In this post, we’ll go over the benefits of this squat variation and provide a step-by-step guide on how to perform it properly to help you spice up your leg day and achieve new gains.
Smith Machine Zercher Squat Summary
- Primary Muscles: Quadriceps
- Secondary Muscles: Adductor Magnus, Gluteus Maximus, and Soleus
- Equipment: Smith Machine
- Mechanics Type: Compound
- Force: Push
- Utility: Basic or Auxiliary

Smith Machine Zercher Squat Instructions
- Place a barbell in the Smith machine and adjust the safety catches to the appropriate height.
- Position yourself in a squat stance, with your chest up, core braced and feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart.
- Grasp the barbell in the crook of your elbows, keeping your arms close to your sides.
- Initiate the movement by pushing your hips back and bending your knees to lower the barbell down.
- Keep your chest up and core braced throughout the exercise.
- Continue to lower yourself until your thighs are at least parallel to the floor.
- Push through your heels to extend your legs and return to the starting position.
Video Tutorial
Smith Machine Zercher Squat Muscles
Target (Agonist)
Synergists
- Adductor Magnus
- Gluteus Maximus
- Soleus
Dynamic Stabilizers
Stabilizers
- Erector Spinae
- Levator Scapulae
- Trapezius – Middle
- Trapezius – Upper
Antagonist Stabilizers

Benefits of Smith Machine Zercher Squat
The Smith Machine Zercher Squat is an excellent exercise for strengthening the quadriceps muscle group. This exercise utilizes the natural resistance of the Smith machine to target the quadriceps in a unique way, allowing you to perform deep squats while maintaining a secure and stable posture. When performing the Smith Machine Zercher Squat, your glutes and hamstrings also receive a great workout, making it an effective compound exercise. Additionally, it can help to improve balance, coordination, and core stability. Overall, this exercise is a great choice for strengthening the quadriceps muscle group, as well as providing a full-body workout.
Tips for Performing Smith Machine Zercher Squat
The Smith Machine Zercher Squat is a great exercise to improve your overall fitness. It is an effective full-body exercise that will help you strengthen your core and leg muscles, as well as help build balance and stability. To get the most out of this exercise and to achieve the best results, there are some tips you should keep in mind. Following these tips will not only help you get the most out of your workout, but also help you reap the benefits of the Zercher Squat.
- Maintain proper form: To get the most out of the Smith Machine Zercher Squat, it is important to maintain proper form throughout the exercise. This includes keeping your chest up, back straight, and feet shoulder-width apart while performing the squat.
- Keep core tight: Engage your core muscles throughout the movement by keeping them tight and braced. This helps to keep your form correct and also helps to reduce the risk of injury.
- Focus on the glutes: The Smith Machine Zercher Squat is an excellent exercise for targeting the glutes, so make sure to focus on squeezing your glutes at the top of each repetition for maximum benefit.
Benefits and Tips Video
Frequent Mistakes To Avoid
When performing the Smith Machine Zercher Squat, it’s important to be aware of the common mistakes that can occur. While this exercise is a great way to strengthen your lower body and core muscles, it can also put you at risk of injury if you don’t execute the movement correctly. The following list outlines some of the most common mistakes made when doing this exercise, and how to avoid them.
- Not keeping the chest up: It is important to maintain good form while performing the Smith Machine Zercher Squat, and that includes keeping the chest up and not allowing it to collapse. This will help to keep the back in an upright position and prevent any potential injury.
- Not using the proper technique: It is important to use proper technique when performing the Smith Machine Zercher Squat. This means that the bar should be held in a low position close to the body, with the elbows bent and the arms close to the sides. This will help to ensure that the exercise is performed correctly and safely.
- Not pushing through the heels: It is important to push through the heels during the Smith Machine Zercher Squat to ensure that you are engaging the correct muscles and that you are getting a full range of motion. Pushing through the heels will also help to prevent any potential injuries that may arise from not engaging the right muscles.
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Variations and Complementary Exercises
Variations, complementary, and alternative exercises to the Smith Machine Zercher Squat can help you to target different muscles while still building strength and stability in your core. Each exercise listed below works similar muscles to the Smith Machine Zercher Squat, allowing you to mix up your routine and work on different areas of your body.
Squat Jump

Squat Jump is a great complementary or alternative exercise to the Smith Machine Zercher Squat. It is a plyometric exercise that increases power, agility, and explosiveness. It involves jumping up from a squatting position as high as possible, then landing in a squatting position with your feet shoulder width apart and knees bent. The focus should be on using your core and leg muscles to drive you upward and absorb the force of the landing. Squat Jumps can be done with no equipment, making them great for those who don’t have access to a Smith Machine. They also provide a great way to increase the intensity of a Zercher Squat without having to add additional weight.
Squats With Bands

Squats With Bands is a great complementary or alternative exercise for Smith Machine Zercher Squat. This exercise requires no equipment and can be done virtually anywhere. It works the same muscle groups as Smith Machine Zercher Squat, with the added benefit of providing resistance from the elastic bands to help increase strength and stability. You can use light to heavy resistance bands to make the exercise easier or more challenging. Squats With Bands also helps improve balance, coordination, and posture as you work to keep your body upright throughout the exercise.
Barbell Front Squat Clean Grip

The Barbell Front Squat Clean Grip is an excellent complementary or alternative exercise to the Smith Machine Zercher Squat. This exercise works the quads, glutes, and hamstrings with an emphasis on the quads. This exercise is performed by holding the barbell with a clean grip in front of the body and performing a squat. This exercise is beneficial because it increases core stability and engages the upper body while still targeting the lower body muscles. It is also beneficial because it can be done with heavier weights than the Smith Machine Zercher Squat and it allows for greater range of motion.
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Barbell Front Squat Cross Arm Grip

The Barbell Front Squat Cross Arm Grip is a great complementary or alternative exercise for the Smith Machine Zercher Squat. This exercise emphasizes the quads and glutes, while also strengthening the core and increasing balance. The Cross Arm Grip variation of the Barbell Front Squat requires the athlete to hold the barbell in front of their body with their arms crossed. This forces the athlete to engage their core and keep their chest up and maintain good posture throughout the exercise. It also provides a more stable base for the squat, which helps to reduce the risk of injury and improve performance.
Barbell Front Sumo Squat

The barbell front sumo squat is an effective alternative or complementary exercise to the Smith Machine Zercher Squat. This exercise works the same muscle groups as the Zercher Squat, but also works on hip flexibility and balance. The sumo squat requires a wider stance than the Zercher Squat and the bar is held in front of the body, rather than in the crook of the arms. This exercise is a great way to work on flexibility, balance and power, while also targeting the lower body muscles.
Barbell Full Squat

The barbell full squat is an excellent complement or alternative exercise to the Smith Machine Zercher Squat. It is an effective lower body exercise that strengthens the entire lower body, including the hips, glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps. To perform a barbell full squat, the barbell is held on the back of the shoulders and the athlete squats down until their thighs are parallel to the floor. This exercise requires proper form and technique to ensure that the movement is performed correctly and safely. Unlike the Smith Machine Zercher Squat which requires a Smith Machine and a special bar attachment, the barbell full squat can be performed with just a barbell and minimal additional equipment. It is also a great way to increase strength and power in your lower body without putting too much strain on your back or shoulders.
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Opposing Complementary Exercises
To further supplement the Smith Machine Zercher Squat, it is important to include exercises that target the opposing muscle groups. This will help to create a balanced workout and prevent muscle imbalances. Below is a list of exercises that will complement the Smith Machine Zercher Squat by engaging and strengthening the opposing muscle groups.
Barbell Dimmel Deadlift

The Barbell Dimmel Deadlift is an effective exercise that complements the Smith Machine Zercher Squat by using the opposing muscle groups. This exercise strengthens the hamstrings and lower back muscles, which are used to stabilize the body during the Zercher Squat. The Dimmel Deadlift works the posterior chain of muscles, which are essential for power production and proper posture. This exercise also helps to increase hip mobility, which is important for the squatting motion. By performing both exercises together, you can effectively strengthen and condition your entire lower body.
Barbell Romanian Deadlift From Deficit

The Barbell Romanian Deadlift From Deficit is a great exercise to add in order to complement the Smith Machine Zercher Squat. This exercise works the opposite muscle group of the squat by targeting the hamstrings, glutes and lower back. This exercise increases stability and mobility in the lower body, allowing for more dynamic movement in the squat. Additionally, it helps to improve posture and balance by strengthening the posterior chain. The Barbell Romanian Deadlift From Deficit is a great addition to any lower body workout as it helps to create a balanced workout and improve overall performance.
Barbell Stiff Legged Deadlift

The Barbell Stiff Legged Deadlift is a great complementary exercise to the Smith Machine Zercher Squat. This exercise works the opposing muscle group of the squat and helps to balance out your lower body strength. By focusing on the hamstrings, glutes, and lower back, the Barbell Stiff Legged Deadlift helps to build strength in the posterior chain muscles that are often neglected in the squat. This exercise also helps to improve overall functional strength and stability in the lower body, which can improve performance in other exercises as well.
Level up with the Smith Zercher Squat!
Looking to enhance your leg day routine? The Smith Zercher Squat might be just the thing you need to level up your workout game. Not only does this exercise target your quadriceps and glutes, but it also engages your core and biceps, giving you an all-around killer workout. Don’t be intimidated by the name – with proper form and technique, the Smith Zercher Squat can be a challenging yet attainable addition to your routine. Keep pushing yourself and watch as your muscles grow and your strength increases.
References: Wikipedia | ExRx.net | PubMed.gov | Comprehensive List of Legs Machine Exercises