I recently shared a quick clip of a leverage squat machine that we’ve used over the past year and a half. It’s a piece from Titan Fitness. And no, I’m not sponsored by them or anyone else. I just use what I like.
I’ve had a lot of people ask about the machine, so here are a few quick thoughts.
Simplicity
First, it’s about as simple as it gets. You load it up, get in position, and go. There’s not much to think about, which isn’t a bad thing. In fact, for athletes, simplicity is a plus. There’s no learning curve. You don’t need to spend time mastering any techniques. It’s virtually dummy proof. You can focus your energy where it matters most, on your sport, while still getting in productive strength work.
It’s also easy to be explosive with it. You can move some weight, push the pace, and get after it without worrying too much about balance or setup. I’ve also found it to be friendly on the back and knees, at least for me. And as a bonus, it works well for calf raises too. Some people even use it for overhead presses.
And perhaps just as important, it doesn’t take up half the gym. For those training at home, space matters. This machine is compact (roughly 44 inches wide and 58 inches deep), but it’s built like a tank. You’re not sacrificing durability to save space.
Rep Ranges
Some days I’ll run it for high reps. In a recent story that I shared to my Instagram page, I was working sets of 25. And yes, 20 to 25 reps is brutal. You get a mix of strength, endurance, and mental grit all in one set.
Other days I’ll go heavier and keep the reps lower.
Which brings me to the bigger point. People spend way too much time overthinking rep ranges. High reps, low reps… it all works if you actually push yourself. The set should be hard. That’s what matters. I don’t care if it happens at 5 reps or 25.
Challenge yourself and results will follow. If you don’t, they won’t.
Final Thoughts
Too many people are looking for the perfect formula when the real answer is much simpler. Train hard. Be consistent. Use what you have. You don’t need the perfect machine. In fact, you don’t need this machine. It just happens to be something that we’ve had success with over the past year and a half so I’m sharing it here.
Don’t get lost in the specifics. You don’t need the perfect program. What matters is the effort you bring to the work.
Pick your poison and get to work.
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