Glutes · Dumbbell

Frog Pump

Pure glute burn, no equipment.

Frog Pump exercise demonstration
GlutesSecondary: HamstringsDumbbell

How to do it

  1. Lie on your back and press the soles of your feet together, knees splayed out.
  2. Pull your heels in close to your body.
  3. Drive through the outer edges of your feet to lift your hips up.
  4. Squeeze your glutes hard at the top, then lower under control.

The one cue that matters

Keep the squeeze in your glutes, not your lower back, at the top.

Muscles worked

Frog pumps put your glutes under direct fire by changing the geometry of a bridge, soles of the feet pressed together and knees splayed wide. That externally rotated position takes the hamstrings mostly out of the driving seat, leaving them assisting while the glutes handle hip extension almost alone. It is a high-rep burner that works anywhere, brilliant for waking the glutes up before heavy lower work or torching them at the end of a session.

FAQ

Why do frog pumps hit the glutes better than regular glute bridges?

The feet-together, knees-out position puts your hips into external rotation, which shortens the hamstrings' contribution and biases the glutes. Most people feel their glutes light up within a set or two.

How many reps of frog pumps should I do?

Treat them as a high-rep move, sets of 15 to 30 with a hard squeeze at the top. The range is short, so chase the burn and the squeeze rather than slow grinding reps.

How do I make frog pumps harder?

First slow the reps and pause at the top. When that is easy, rest a dumbbell across your hips for added resistance, the movement stays identical.

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