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Hip thrusts · ●●● Difficulty 3 of 3
Single-Leg Hip Thrust
Gluteus maximus · glute medius
The best no-equipment glute builder: full range, high tension, and it trains each side on its own.
Set up
- Shoulder blades on a bench or couch, one foot planted, the other knee pulled to your chest.
How to do it
- 1Brace and drive through the planted heel.
- 2Lift until your torso is parallel to the floor; keep your hips level.
- 3Squeeze for 1–2 seconds, then lower with control.
Form cues
- Hug the free knee in
- Hips square to the ceiling
- Chin tucked
Common mistakes
- Hips rotating toward the free leg
- Short, bouncy reps
Make it work for you
- Easier
- Two-leg hip thrust
- Harder
- Add a dumbbell, or a 3-second lowering
- Bodyweight
- Bodyweight
- Dumbbells
- Dumbbell on working hip
- Gym
- Dumbbell or Smith machine
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