How to improve barbell squats: 9 strength-building exercises to ace your performance

How to improve barbell squats: 9 strength-building exercises to ace your performance

How to improve barbell squats: 9 strength-building exercises to ace your performance ByAayushi Gupta Jun 19, 2025 09:37 PM IST Read this news in brief form Share Via Copy Link Struggling with barbell squats? Focus on building strength first! Try these 9 exercises to boost your strength and improve your barbell squat performance.

If you are a gym freak or even a beginner, you know how tough barbell squats can be. It takes serious strength, balance, and the right form, and let us be honest, most beginners either struggle to do it or make a few mistakes along the way. Do you feel the same? You are not alone! Barbell squats challenge your legs, core, and flexibility all at once, which makes them one of the most effective yet demanding exercises. But that does not mean it is impossible to perform. With time, practice, and the right support exercises, squatting with heavy weights will feel much easier. These 9 exercises will help you build strength, muscle, and endurance to master the barbell squat!

These exercises will help you perform barbell squats.(Adobe Stock)

9 exercises to improve barbell squat

Fitness expert Varun Rattan tells HT HealthShots about the most effective exercises that can help you gain strength and muscle mass, making it easier to perform barbell squats:

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5. Front squat

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How to perform barbell squats?

• Stand with feet shoulder-width apart under the barbell.
• Place the bar across your upper back (above your shoulder) and grip it firmly.
• Lift the bar off the rack and step back slowly.
• Keep your core tight and back straight.
• Bend your knees and hips to lower into a squat.
• Push through your heels to stand back up.