LEG PRESS questions... Please reply!

[SSAlexSS]

Finally my crappy gym got a leg press machine... I havent used it in ages... (i had it in school). I used to squat but I cant get much strenth off it, so I decided to supplement my leg work with leg pressess.

The thing about leg press is that I dont feel it in my quads... I dont know why...
For example in Squat I start to really feel my legs after rep 12 or so. I did 360 pounds for 20 reps and my legs while tired, didnt beg for my mercy.... What gives?

Also, what leg position is thebest for leg press? how far should feet be apart and should they be parallel to each other or slightly pointing outward?


reply please... thanks!

 

[SAGAT]

hmmmm..........i always think of it like i'm squatting....just in a horizontal position...i always point my feet slightly outward, make SURE you press with your legs...it's kinda hard for me to explain...i just felt it when i was doing it right.

 

[gymtime]

360lbs is not a lot of weight on a leg press because the machine itself is carrying much of that weight. So add more weight.

Position your feet just like a squat, shoulder width or so, toes forward. The higher your feet are on the sled, the more your hams get involved. The lower your feet are, the more your quads are doing the work.

Also, don't trade leg press for squats. Do both.

 

[FitnessFrk]

Also put the seat all the way back. It will take less emphasis off the hamstrings and put more on the quads.

Many people put the seat all the way up just for the reason that you can do more weight, but it defeats the purpose if you are doing it primarily for the quads.

 

[trouble_60]

And remember to push through your heals.

 

[curling]

360lbs is not a lot of weight on a leg press because the machine itself is carrying much of that weight. So add more weight.

Position your feet just like a squat, shoulder width or so, toes forward. The higher your feet are on the sled, the more your hams get involved. The lower your feet are, the more your quads are doing the work.

Also, don't trade leg press for squats. Do both.

Thanks for that info gymtime. So what you saying you could do leg press for both quads and hams by the way you position your feet right?

 

[FitnessFrk]

yes..feet together will stress the outside of the quads more. feet spread out wide will bring more hamstring into play.

 

[gymtime]

Thanks for that info gymtime. So what you saying you could do leg press for both quads and hams by the way you position your feet right?

FF is also correct, but I was thinking more in terms of positioning your feet higher or lower on the sled to include or preclude your hams respectively.

Although the higher, shoulder-width feet position will demand more from your hams, the leg press remains PRIMARILY a quad excercise IMO, no matter where you position your feet. In other words, even though you can change your foot position to incorporate your hams into the excercise, I would not consider the leg press a ham excercise. The two best excercises for hams IMO are deads (reg or SL), and curls.