Upper Legs Exercise · Body Weight
Single Leg Squat (pistol) Male
- Category
- Upper Legs
- Equipment
- Body Weight
- Target
- Glutes
Form and technique verified by certified strength coaches; see our editorial standards.
The Single Leg Squat (pistol) Male is a multi-muscle upper legs exercise designed to train your Glutes with help from your Hamstrings, Calves.
Operates primarily in the sagittal plane involving knee flexion/extension and hip extension. Peak mechanical tension occurs in the deep lengthened position at the bottom transition. Maintain midfoot balance and an upright torso angle. Doing this with controlled form helps you build muscle safely while protecting your joints.
Quick Exercise Facts
Target Muscle Activation
The pistol squat asks one leg to do everything a two-legged squat splits between two — strength, balance, and ankle mobility all have to show up at once, which is why it humbles lifters who can squat heavy with a barbell but have never tried it unloaded on one leg. Most people lose the pistol to ankle or hip mobility long before they lose it to quad strength. It's as much a mobility test as a strength one.
How to Do the Single Leg Squat (pistol) Male
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, arms reaching out in front of you.
- Raise your right foot off the floor and extend it forward.
- Bend your left knee and push your hips back to slowly lower your body.
- Keep your chest lifted and your back straight throughout the descent.
- Descend until your left thigh is parallel to the floor, or as far as is comfortable.
- Hold briefly at the bottom, then drive through your left heel to return to standing.
- Complete your target reps on one side, maintaining smooth control, then switch sides and repeat.
Recommended Sets & Reps by Goal
Medium weight · 90–120s rest
Heavy weight · 2–3 min rest (Calc 1RM)
Light weight · 45–60s rest
Technique & Form Tips
Operates primarily in the sagittal plane involving knee flexion/extension and hip extension. Peak mechanical tension occurs in the deep lengthened position at the bottom transition. Maintain midfoot balance and an upright torso angle.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Knee Valgus (Inward Collapse): Allowing knees to cave inward during the ascent places excessive tensile stress on the MCL and lateral meniscus. Drive knees out in line with second toes.
- Excessive Forward Pitch: Allowing the chest to drop and hips to shoot up turns the squat into a good-morning, transferring load off the quadriceps onto the lumbar erectors.
- Heel Lift & Weight Shift: Shifting balance forward onto the balls of the feet compromises stability and increases patellar tendon strain. Keep weight distributed over midfoot.
How to Breathe During This Exercise
Perform a deep abdominal brace (Valsalva maneuver) into the diaphragm before initiating descent. Hold intra-abdominal pressure through the bottom transition, exhaling past the sticking point on ascent.
Add the Single Leg Squat (pistol) Male to Your Custom Workout Routine
Build a personalized, science-backed workout plan matching your training goals, equipment access, and schedule.
Comfort & Joint Safety Tips
Lifters experiencing acute patellofemoral knee discomfort should moderate depth to parallel or utilize box squats to reduce peak anterior patellar shear. If joint irritation persists, immediately stop and substitute this movement with another exercise from the Upper Legs exercises category.
Muscles Worked
The Single Leg Squat (pistol) Male mainly targets your Glutes, with your Quadriceps helping support the movement, along with your Hamstrings, Calves.
More Upper Legs Exercises
All Fours Squad Stretch
Arms Apart Circular Toe Touch (male)
Assisted Lying Glutes Stretch
Assisted Lying Gluteus And Piriformis Stretch
Assisted Prone Hamstring
Assisted Prone Lying Quads Stretch
More Glutes Exercises
Band Bent-Over Hip Extension
Band Hip Lift
Band Lying Hip Internal Rotation
Band Pull Through
Band Seated Hip Internal Rotation
Band Squat
Equipment Alternatives
Don't have body weight? These target the same glutes with different equipment.
FAQ
- What muscles does the Single Leg Squat (pistol) Male work?
- The Single Leg Squat (pistol) Male mainly works your glutes. It also helps strengthen your quadriceps and hamstrings, calves. Using good, smooth form makes sure you work the right muscles and avoid unnecessary strain on your joints.
- What equipment do I need for the Single Leg Squat (pistol) Male?
- You do the Single Leg Squat (pistol) Male with no equipment — just body weight. Make sure your equipment is set up safely before starting. If you work out at home or have limited gear, check out our alternative exercises below.
- What is the most common form mistake on the Single Leg Squat (pistol) Male?
- The most common mistake is knee valgus (inward collapse): Allowing knees to cave inward during the ascent places excessive tensile stress on the MCL and lateral meniscus. Drive knees out in line with second toes.. Lowering the weight slowly (about 2 to 3 seconds) builds more muscle and keeps your joints safe.
- How many sets and reps should I perform on the Single Leg Squat (pistol) Male?
- To build muscle size, aim for 3 to 4 sets of 8 to 12 reps with 90 to 120 seconds of rest. To build pure strength, focus on 4 to 5 sets of 3 to 6 heavier reps with 2 to 3 minutes of rest.
- What's a good alternative to the Single Leg Squat (pistol) Male?
- If you don't have access to the space or setup it needs, the Band Bent-Over Hip Extension targets the same glutes using band instead. This alternative replicates the same joint angle and movement plane while allowing you to train effectively with different available gear. You can also substitute it seamlessly in our free Workout Plan Builder.