When constructing a decrease physique worthy of shock and awe, the hamstrings usually play second fiddle to the quads. As a result of who doesn’t like a superb quad teardrop flex? Nonetheless, performing hamstring workout routines are essential for athletic efficiency, harm prevention, and basic human motion. They’re accountable for hip extension, knee flexion, and stabilizing the pelvis, making them important to coach for improved power, sexiness, and efficiency.
Right here, we’ll discover the highest 10 hamstring workout routines to enhance power, dimension, and efficiency. Whether or not you’re an athlete seeking to improve efficiency or a lifter aiming to construct a powerful decrease physique, these workout routines will present the range and problem your hamstrings must develop stronger and sexier.
However earlier than attending to the good things, right here is how the listing was chosen.
Why These Hamstring Workout routines are the Finest
The first focus is on the actions and capabilities of the hamstrings: hip extension and knee flexion. Sure, the glutes are concerned, however as a result of they’re stronger than your hammies, they mean you can goal the hamstrings tougher and heavier.
To make sure enhanced muscle improvement, I prioritized workout routines that:
- Targeted On Hamstring Engagement: Every train targets the hamstrings, guaranteeing they’re one of many main muscle mass educated.
- Enable for Progressive Overload: Progressive overload is important for muscle progress and power good points. To problem the hamstrings, you may simply alter the workout routines under with extra weight, reps, or variations.
- Embrace Each Unilateral and Bilateral Workout routines: Balanced hamstring improvement is essential to keep away from muscle imbalances, which might result in harm. Incorporating each ensures improved power and symmetry.
And it goes with out saying (however I’ll anyway) that these workout routines are nice for hamstring power and dimension. Now, let’s get to the good things.
10 Should Do Hamstring Workout routines
We’re bringing hamstrings again, and the quads don’t know methods to act. Effectively, sure, they do, however I couldn’t resist the Timberlake reference. Anyway, let’s get to constructing a unbelievable set of hamstrings.
Stiff-Legged Deadlift
Whereas the Stiff-Legged Deadlift and the Romanian Deadlift (RDL) are wonderful for the hamstrings, the Stiff-Legged Deadlift locations even larger concentrate on the hamstrings by eliminating most knee flexion. And that’s the way it beat the outdated favourite. This variation requires you to take care of straighter legs all through, resulting in a deeper stretch and elevated pressure on the hamstrings.
This makes it efficient for isolating and strengthening the hamstrings, particularly when hamstring muscle is the purpose.
Advised Rep Ranges: For power, purpose for 3 to five units of three to six reps. For hypertrophy, 3 to 4 units of 8 to fifteen reps work properly.
Nordic Hamstring Curl
The Nordic Hamstring Curl is a sophisticated body weight train emphasizing the hamstrings’ eccentric (lengthening) power. This train enhances hamstring power, making it a favourite amongst lifters seeking to stop accidents whereas bettering their dimension and power. The concentrate on eccentric loading helps strengthen the muscle mass and connective tissues, lowering the chance of the dreaded hamstring pressure.
Advised Rep Ranges: Begin with 3 to 4 units of 4-6 reps, as this train can create a little bit of soreness.
Glute-Ham Increase (GHR)
The Glute-Ham Increase requires specialised gear; in case your fitness center has it, your hamstrings will be grateful for it. GHR is great for constructing each hamstring power and dimension. It additionally enhances decrease again stability, making it an excellent train for all the posterior chain. This train engages the hamstrings by means of a full vary of movement, concentrating on the muscle’s concentric and eccentric contractions. What does that every one imply? It means good points.
Advised Rep Ranges: Carry out 3 to 4 units of 6-12 reps, specializing in management to maximise muscle pressure.
Landmine Single-Leg Deadlift
In case you are upset concerning the RDL being overlooked, that is for you; the Landmine Single-Leg Deadlift (RDL) is an amazing unilateral hamstring train as a result of the setup supplies higher stability, permitting you to hit the hamstrings closely and onerous. It emphasizes stability and hamstring muscle pressure, making it perfect for strengthening muscle imbalances and bettering muscular improvement between legs.
Advised Rep Ranges: 3 to 4 units of 6 to 12 reps per aspect.
Stability Ball Single-Leg Hamstring Curl
The Stability Ball Single-Leg Hamstring curl is a sneaky train. You do a number of reps and suppose, “That is simple; I acquired this,” after which your hamstrings begin screaming at you. Why? The ball’s instability forces your hamstrings and core to work collectively whereas performing slowly due to its difficult nature. This train isolates the hamstrings, improves time below pressure, and challenges your core power, making it a superb three-in-one train.
Advised Rep Ranges: Carry out 3 units of 6-10 reps per aspect.
Barbell Good Morning
The Good Morning is a pure hip hinge train. When carried out properly, it targets the hamstrings, glutes, and decrease again, making it a superb selection for strengthening these three muscle mass. Sure, it’s also a glute and decrease again train, however the barbell’s stability mixed together with your glute power permits you to hit the hammies onerous and heavy.
Advised Rep Ranges: For power, carry out 3 to five units of 3-5 reps.
For muscle, carry out 3 to 4 units of 6-12 reps.
Mendacity Leg Curl
The Mendacity Leg Curl will not be the sexiest or most difficult hamstring train, however it’s efficient. Why? This train isolates the hamstrings, primarily concentrating on the muscle’s knee flexion motion. The steadiness of mendacity down improves hamstring pressure, making it unbelievable for constructing hamstring dimension and power with out utilizing the glutes and decrease again.
Advised Rep Ranges: Carry out 3 to 4 units of 8-15 reps, utilizing a managed tempo to maximise pressure.
Cable Pull-By
The Cable Pull-By is just like the kettlebell swing and RDL variations with out spinal loading. As a result of it’s a pure hip hinge, it permits you to focus extra on the hips and hamstrings. The prolonged ROM will present a muscle pre-stretch earlier than the lockout, and mixed with a managed tempo, it should mild up your hamstrings. Simply guarantee you don’t make eye contact with anybody.
Advised Rep Ranges: 3 to 4 units of 10-15 reps, specializing in a strong hip extension on the motion’s high.
Reverse Hyperextension
The Reverse Hyperextension is often carried out on a machine, however you may improvise with a weight bench or stability ball. I used to be torn between this and the 45-degree again extension. Nonetheless, reverse hyperextension emphasizes the glutes and hamstrings extra because of the greater vary of movement and the physique’s place, permitting for a extra important hamstring stretch and contraction. What does that imply? Candy, candy hamstring good points.
Advised Rep Ranges: 3 to 4 units of 10-15 reps, specializing in controlling the tempo and avoiding momentum.
Hamstring Slider Curl
The Hamstring Slider Curl is a difficult body weight train that isolates the hamstrings whereas emphasizing eccentric contraction, which is essential for muscle progress and harm prevention. Not like different workout routines that depend on heavy weights or gear, this motion makes use of your physique weight and friction as resistance. The concentrate on stability, management, and eccentric power makes it a superb selection for these seeking to construct bulletproof their hamstrings.
Advised Rep Ranges: Carry out 3 to 4 units of 8-12 reps, guaranteeing you keep management all through the train.
