Hamstring Stretch
Why it matters
The Hamstring Stretch builds strength and size in your hamstrings. As a compound movement, it trains several muscles together and carries over to real-world strength and power.
How to do it
- Ease into the position without forcing the range.
- Ease into the starting position without forcing the range.
- Set a comfortable position you can control before moving.
- Move to the first point of tension, not into pain.
- Ease slightly deeper on each exhale.
- Hold the end position briefly, then return smoothly to the start.
- Move to the first point of tension and hold there, breathing steadily.
Coaching cues
- Tension, never pain — back off the moment it sharpens.
- Move to the first point of tension rather than into pain.
- Breathe out as you ease a little deeper into the range.
- Move smoothly and slowly rather than bouncing.
- Feel the back of your thighs work through the rep.
Watch out for
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Bouncing or forcing into the end range.
This takes work off the target muscle and reduces what you get from the set.
Instead Hold a still position and let the tissue release on its own.
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Forcing or bouncing into an end range.
Forcing past your range fights the stretch instead of easing it and does little for mobility.
Instead Move slowly to gentle tension and let it ease with your breath.
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Holding your breath while you hold the position.
Holding your breath tenses you up and stops you easing deeper into the range.
Instead Keep breathing slowly and let each exhale ease you a little deeper.
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Snapping quickly from one rep to the next.
Snapping through reps skips the controlled range that mobility work depends on.
Instead Move slowly into and out of each repetition.
The detail
- Tempo
- Move slowly and hold positions rather than bouncing.
- Breathing
- Breathe slowly and use each exhale to relax a little deeper.
- Range of motion
- Work to a comfortable end range that eases over the set. Take the hamstrings through its full working range each rep.
- If you are new to it
- Reduce the range and build gradually session to session.
- Once it is easy
- Add a gentle contraction at end range before relaxing deeper.