Ape Plate Loaded Pendulum Squat

The APE plate loaded pendulum squat guides deep, braced squats on a swinging arc, loaded with Olympic plates on a heavy steel frame. Pads keep you in the arc, so your legs do the work without a free bar to balance. It suits gyms, studios and serious garage lifters who train legs heavy.

Check these first on the APE pendulum squat:

The size figures are in the order the manufacturer lists them. Converted from the manufacturer's metric figures.

Key Features of the APE Pendulum Squat

What the arc gives your leg day:

✅ Swinging arc guides a deep, braced squat
✅ Pads remove the balance demand of a free bar
✅ Loads with plates, not a weight stack
✅ Accent colors to match your gym

How does a pendulum squat work your legs?

The load arm pivots, so you travel on an arc instead of a straight vertical line. That path keeps your torso braced against the pads while the quads and glutes drive the lift.

Foot position and depth then set how the work splits between quads and glutes. Our pendulum squat buying guide covers the movement in more depth.

Pendulum squat or hack squat?

Neither wins outright. A pendulum squat moves on an arc, while a hack squat rides a fixed angled track, so each loads the legs a little differently.

Choose the pendulum squat when you want the arc and a guided, braced squat. Choose a hack squat when you prefer a straight track; the APE hack squat (HS) is the sibling to look at.

Our guide to choosing a hack squat machine walks through the trade-offs.

What space and delivery path does it need?

Settle the spot before the freight is booked:

1. Mark the listed size on your floor.
2. Check headroom above the top of the frame.
3. Line up help to move the crate inside.
4. Lay rubber flooring under the machine.

The pendulum squat ships in a 91.3 × 39.4 × 19.7 in crate weighing 496 lb, so measure every door, turn and stair before you order.

A free 3D home gym design places the machine among your racks before you commit.

Is the APE pendulum squat right for you?

A good match if you:

• Run a gym, studio or team leg area
• Own a full set of Olympic plates
• Want a guided squat path without a free bar

Better to skip if you:

• Prefer a pin-loaded leg machine
• Have no room for a large leg station
• Need a machine that moves easily

More leg stations are in our plate-loaded squat machines.

APE pendulum squat specifications

Key details for the APE pendulum squat (APS):

Delivery and returns

Shipping is free on all APE equipment. Custom imported items are final sale under our policy, with the warranty still in force. Standard returns run 30 days with proof of purchase for undamaged items in original packaging, minus a 25% restocking fee and return shipping. Items used beyond testing can't come back, and cancelling before shipment costs 2.5%, per our shipping and returns policy.

Plate loaded pendulum squat FAQs

Is a pendulum squat harder than a squat?

It often feels harder per plate. The pads take away the balance and bracing work that limit a free bar, so your legs carry more of the effort, and the lever setup changes how heavy each plate feels. Judge the set by how it feels, not by comparing plate counts with a barbell.

Does a pendulum squat work the glutes?

Yes. A higher, wider foot position and a deep range shift more work to the glutes, while a lower, narrower stance moves it onto the quads.

Pendulum squat or leg press?

They train the same muscles from different positions. A pendulum squat keeps you upright with the load across your body, while a leg press has you seated or reclined pushing a sled. Choose the position your hips, back and knees handle comfortably.

Can a pendulum squat replace back squats?

It can stand in for the quad and glute work. It does not train the balance and bracing of a free-bar squat, so many lifters use both; our guide to machine squats versus the barbell compares the two.

Order the APE Pendulum Squat

Order online, then call or text 423-458-2453 for the machine's starting resistance. Hamilton Home Fitness ships from Tennessee to all 50 US states.