Exercise guide
Lever Glute Press
- Beginner
- Compound
- Rep-based
- Lower legs
- Upper legs
The Lever Glute Press is a powerful unilateral movement that isolates the gluteus maximus through hip extension while providing machine-based stability. It allows for heavy loading with minimal lower back strain, making it ideal for building glute strength and size.
Reviewed by the Crucible Fit team · Updated June 2026
Muscles worked
Setup
- Adjust the chest pad and handles so your torso is stable and your spine is neutral.
- Place the arch or heel of your working foot firmly against the center of the footplate.
- Position your non-working knee on the support pad and grip the handles to lock your upper body in place.
- Engage your core to ensure your hips remain square to the machine.
How to do it
- Exhale as you drive the lever back and upward by extending your hip, pushing primarily through your heel.
- Continue the movement until your leg is fully extended, being careful not to lock out your knee or arch your lower back.
- Inhale as you slowly resist the weight back to the starting position, stopping just before the plates touch.
- Maintain a controlled tempo, focusing on a 2-second eccentric (return) phase.
Form checklist
- Keep your core braced to prevent the lower back from rounding or arching.
- Ensure your hips stay level; do not allow the working hip to rotate upward.
- Drive through the heel of the foot to maximize glute recruitment over the quadriceps.
- Keep your neck neutral by looking slightly downward or straight ahead at the machine.
Pro tips
- Pause for a full second at the top of the movement and consciously squeeze the glute of the working leg.
- To emphasize the glute-hamstring tie-in, focus on pulling the lever 'away' from your body rather than just pushing it up.
- Experiment with a slight external rotation of the foot (pointing toes out 15 degrees) to better align with the glute muscle fibers.
Make it harder
- Implement '1.5 reps' by performing a full extension, returning halfway, pushing back to full extension, and then returning to the start.
- Slow the eccentric phase to 4 seconds to increase time under tension.
Frequently asked
- What muscles does the lever glute press work?
- The lever glute press primarily targets the glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps, and also works the abs and obliques as secondary muscles.
- What equipment do you need for the lever glute press?
- The lever glute press uses leverage machine.
- Is the lever glute press good for beginners?
- Yes. The lever glute press is a beginner-friendly movement and a strong foundation to build on.
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