Smith Machine Sumo Squat
- Primary muscleGlutes
- EquipmentSmith Machine
- DifficultyBeginner
- TypeCompound · Knee-dominant
- Secondary muscles
- Quads, Hamstrings, Calves
- Body part
- Upper Legs
- Position
- Standing
- Laterality
- Bilateral (both sides together)
- Category
- Strength
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Widening your stance and flaring the toes on the Smith machine points the load at the adductors and glutes, and the guided bar lets you sit straight down between your legs without fighting for balance. Choose it over the standard-stance Smith squat on days when inner thigh and glute work is the goal.
How to do the Smith Machine Sumo Squat
- Set up the smith machine with the barbell at hip height.
- Stand with your feet wider than shoulder-width apart, toes pointing outwards.
- Position yourself under the barbell, resting it on your upper back and shoulders.
- Engage your core and keep your chest up as you lower your body down into a squat position, pushing your hips back and bending your knees.
- 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.
Tip: Screw the feet into the floor and spread it apart to keep the knees out and the arch of the foot from collapsing.
Muscles worked
Primary
Glutes · Legs
The glutes extend the hip on the way up and take more of the load the deeper you go and the wider your stance.
Secondary
- Quads — The quads extend the knee and drive you out of the bottom, and front squats and close stance variations put more on them.
- Hamstrings
- Calves
Common mistakes
- Knees caving inward — push the knees out over the toes on the way up, especially out of the bottom where they most want to collapse.
- Hips shooting up first — if the hips rise faster than the chest on the way up, you turn the squat into a good morning; drive the chest and hips up together.
- Cutting the depth — get the hip crease below the top of the knee on every rep unless mobility genuinely stops you, in which case work on it.
- Losing the brace — take a big breath into the belly before each rep and hold it through the sticking point, then exhale on the way up.
Sets, reps and where it fits
| Goal | Sets × reps | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 4–5 × 3–6 | 2–3 min |
| Muscle growth | 3–4 × 6–12 | 90–120 s |
| Endurance | 2–3 × 12–20 | 60 s |
Squats go first in a lower body session when you are freshest. Follow them with Romanian deadlifts or leg press, or superset lighter sets with pull-ups to use the same rack.
Variations and alternatives
Similar exercises
Without smith machine
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does the Smith Machine Sumo Squat work?
The Smith Machine Sumo Squat primarily works the glutes. It also involves the quads, hamstrings and calves, which assist the movement and stabilise the joints.
Is the Smith Machine Sumo Squat good for beginners?
Yes. The Smith Machine Sumo Squat is rated beginner: it uses a smith machine and the movement is simple to learn. Start light, focus on the full range of motion and add load once every rep looks the same.
What can I do instead of the Smith Machine Sumo Squat?
If you cannot do the Smith Machine Sumo Squat, try the Curtsy Lunge, the Supported Bodyweight Squat or the Dumbbell Squat. Each of them trains the glutes through a similar movement, so you can swap them in without changing the rest of the workout.
How many sets and reps should I do?
It depends on your goal. For the Smith Machine Sumo Squat, a sensible starting point is strength: 4–5 × 3–6 with 2–3 min rest; muscle growth: 3–4 × 6–12 with 90–120 s rest; endurance: 2–3 × 12–20 with 60 s rest. Put it early in the session while you are fresh, before isolation work for the same muscles.
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