Common Mistakes in Landmine Squats (and How to Fix Them)

The landmine squat has become a popular alternative to the usual barbell squats. Safer on the spine, easier on the knees, and more learner-friendly, it offers an excellent way to strengthen the lower body while educating proper squat techniques. However, like any exercise, the landmine squat is only persuasive if performed correctly. Small errors can reduce results, or poor ones, lead to harm over time.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the most common mistakes people make in the landmine squat press and, more importantly, how to fix them.

Rounding the Back

·       The Mistake:

Leaning too far forward or leaning on the chest leads to a curved back. This mistake shifts the load onto the backbone, defeating individual of the main benefits of the landmine squat: reduced back strain.

·       The Fix:

Employ your core and keep your chest tall. A beneficial cue is to imagine appearing the logo on your top to someone ahead of you. Keeping your shoulders back and abs close guarantees the spine remains neutral throughout the squat.

Knees Caving In

·       The Mistake:

Allowing the knees to collapse inward (valgus collapse) is a prevalent squat problem that also shows up in landmine squats. It places stress on the knees and reduces glute activation.

·       The Fix:

Actively drive your knees outward as you descend and rise. A natural mental cue is to assume spreading the floor separately with your extremities.

Not Squatting Deep Enough

·       The Mistake:

Cutting the change short by performing half or quarter squats reduces power activation and limits progress. Many newcomers stop too high on account of fear of losing balance or lack of flexibility.

·       The Fix:

The landmine squat’s forward-loaded design makes it smooth to achieve depth, so take advantage of this. Work on hip and bone mobility if inflexibility is preventing a thorough range of motion.

Using Too Much Weight Too Soon

·       The Mistake:

Some lifters pile on plates, focusing on load rather than method. Excess weight frequently leads to compensations like leaning forward or hurrying reps, undermining the influence of the exercise.

·       The Fix:

Once you can complete 3 sets of 10–12 reps, accompanied by control and proper insight, gradually increase the load. Progression endures, never comes at the payment of technique.

Rushing the Movement

·       The Mistake:

Performing landmine squats with great speed turns the exercise into a bounce rather than a reserved lift. This reduces time under pressure and increases injury risk.

·       The Fix:

Slow down. Take 2–3 seconds to condescend, pause briefly fundamentally, and then drive upward accompanying control.

Conclusion

The landmine squat is an excellent finish for building lower body strength carefully, but it only delivers results when performed with decent form. Fixing these accepted errors not only embellishes your results but also protects your junctures and spine—helping you squat better, stronger, and harm-free.