Barbell Hip Thrust

The Barbell Hip Thrust targets the glutes and hamstrings, promoting strength and stability in the lower body.

To perform the exercise:

  1. Sit on the ground with your upper back against a bench and roll a barbell over your hips.
  2. Plant your feet flat on the floor, shoulder-width apart.
  3. Drive through your heels, lifting your hips towards the ceiling while squeezing your glutes.
  4. Lower your hips back down and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

How to perform the Barbell Hip Thrust

  1. Set up. Set up in a stable, balanced starting position appropriate for the Barbell Hip Thrust using your barbell.
  2. Brace and execute. Brace your core, control the descent, and move through a full pain-free range of motion while emphasizing your hamstrings.
  3. Reset. Reverse the movement under control and reset between repetitions, keeping your form crisp on every rep.

Coaching cues

  • Move with intent — every rep should feel deliberate, not rushed.
  • Drive force through your hamstrings rather than momentum.
  • Keep your breathing steady: exhale on the hard part, inhale on the reset.

Common mistakes

  • Using too much weight and losing positional control.
  • Cutting the range of motion short and missing the target muscle.
  • Letting your spine round or hyperextend instead of staying neutral.

Detailed cues, common mistakes, and demonstration video are available in the Fitly app.

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Variations of Barbell Hip Thrust

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