How to Do the Goblet Squat for Strong Legs and Glutes

If you're hunting for a beginner-friendly squat variation that works the glutes, quads and hamstrings while being gentle on the back, look no further. The goblet squat checks all those boxes — and more.

• ‌What is a goblet squat?‌ A goblet squat is a strength exercise that involves squatting while holding a dumbbell or kettlebell to your chest with both hands.
• ‌Who can do the goblet squat?‌ The goblet squat is a beginner (and back) friendly squat variation. If you can squat, you can do the goblet squat.
• ‌What muscles do goblet squats work?‌ The goblet squat strengthens the quadriceps, glutes and hamstrings, says Vanessa Mandell, CPT, ISSA-certified trainer in Los Angeles, California.
• ‌How heavy should you goblet squat?‌ Beginners should start light and keep their movements slow and controlled to work on form, Maiers says. Use a weight you can squat for 8 to 12 reps with good form, but that is heavy enough that the last one or two reps feel challenging. Experiment with lower rep counts and heavier weights once you're confident that you've nailed proper goblet squat form.

The goblet squat is similar to a front squat in that both require holding a weight in front of the body. However, the goblet squat typically has a lower skill component, especially when compared to the barbell front squat.

"Performing a front squat with a barbell is a more difficult, challenging move to do right, and is a significant progression from a goblet squat," Bohannon says. The barbell front squat requires a braced midsection while lifting the elbows and bending the wrists back to support the bar with the fingertips, he notes. This calls for significant control, skill and strength (not to mention plenty of shoulder and wrist mobility).

The goblet squat is less technical but allows you to work many of the same muscles as a barbell front squat.

"It's a perfect move for someone who's relatively inexperienced in the gym and wants to build up their strength before progressing to more difficult moves," Bohannon says.

Like other squat variations, the goblet squat targets the quads, glutes and hamstrings. "However, with the goblet squat, you'll be getting more core engagement from holding the weight in front of your body," Maiers says.

In particular, you'll work the abdominal muscles, including the rectus abdominis ("six-pack" muscle), obliques (side ab muscles) and transverse abdominis (deep ab muscle).

The better you can maintain an upright torso, the lower your risk of back pain. As Bohannon explains, many people feel lower back pain from squats from hyperextending (overarching) their spine to maintain their center of gravity, "putting more pressure on the lower back."

The goblet squat puts the weight in front of your body, which acts as a counterbalance. This makes it easier to maintain an upright torso during the goblet squat, especially compared to the barbell back squat, which places the weight behind your body. Thus, the goblet squat may be gentler on the back than other squat variations.

Some people can't keep their heels on the ground when they squat down without losing their balance. This can happen if your hip and ankle joints aren't mobile enough to flex to the extent required to bring your pelvis, thighs, shins and feet closer together.

So, if you can't keep your heels on the ground when you squat without losing your balance, Mandell says you may need to work on your hip and ankle mobility.

‌Fix It:‌ Hold the bottom position of the goblet squat to get your hips and ankles more flexible in this position. "You can move the weight further in front of your chest to better balance if you feel like you're falling backward," Mandell says.

Hold this bottom position for 20 seconds. Rest for 30 seconds and repeat twice (three rounds total). Mandell suggests incorporating this into your warmup for goblet squats.

If that's too advanced, sit in a deep squat position while holding onto a pole or bench to keep yourself from falling. "Make sure your heels stay on the ground while your back is upright," Mandell says.

A sumo squat stance vs. a regular squat stance may also be helpful, but that will work slightly different muscles in the legs, placing more emphasis on the inner thigh adductors.

When you hold a heavy weight in front of your chest, there's a risk that your upper back will round in response to the tension. Poor posture caused by weakness in the upper back muscles can also cause rounding.

Squatting with a rounded upper back puts extra pressure on the neck and spine, which increases your risk of neck and spinal pain and injury, Bohannon says.

‌Fix It:‌ Focus on drawing the shoulder blades into your back pocket and keeping the upper chest lifted during the goblet squat, Bohannon says.

Another common goblet squat mistake is letting the knees cave in, Maiers says. When the knees dip inward, they take on added strain — especially on the inner part of the joint. Over time, the extra strain may lead to knee pain or injury, including ACL tears, Maiers notes. The ACL runs diagonally in the middle of the knee and provides stability for rotational movements.

‌Fix It:‌ If you experience soreness or discomfort in the inner part of your knees during or after goblet squats, imagine you're wearing a mini resistance band around your thighs "and you're pushing out against it at all times [during the squat]," Maiers suggests. Or, you can actually wear a mini band: Loop it around your legs above the knees and push against it while you squat.

Arching the lower back during goblet squats is a common mistake that can lead to or aggravate lower back pain, Maiers says.

You may arch your lower back if your posture is poor, your back muscles are weak or the load is too heavy for you to manage. If you don't address the arch, you may develop back pain or injury thanks to the added pressure on your spine, Bohannon says.

‌Fix It:‌ If you feel lower back discomfort or pain during or after goblet squats, try tilting your pelvis slightly under. "Think of your pelvis as a Tostitos chip: Scoop the chip before initiating the squat," Maiers says.

"This is my personal favorite goblet squat variation," Mandell says. Elevating your heels on a rolled-up mat or weight plate enables you to target the quads more effectively and sink deeper into the squat without sacrificing form. "A bigger range of motion is often a good thing, and this case, recruits more muscles," Mandell says.

This exercise is an advanced variation of a traditional goblet squat. Slowing the lowering phase of the squat forces your muscles to brace against the weight for a longer period. Meanwhile, exploding upward from the bottom position of the squat requires more power than simply standing up. "This will tire you out faster than you might think and takes the exercise to a new level," Mandell says.

"This variation is for the brave," Mandell says. In it, you hold the weight in the traditional goblet squat position but perform a Bulgarian split squat. Going from two legs to one leg makes the move significantly harder. "All the work is now dependent on the front leg, while the back leg on the bench is only there for support," Mandell says.