How to Do Front Cone Hops (or hurdle hops)
Start and end of one clean rep of Front Cone Hops (or hurdle hops).
Quick facts
| Primary muscle | Quads |
|---|---|
| Secondary muscles | Glutes, Calves, Hamstrings |
| Equipment | Machine |
| Category | Plyometrics |
How to perform Front Cone Hops (or hurdle hops)
- Set up a row of cones or other small barriers, placing them a few feet apart.
- Stand in front of the first cone with your feet shoulder width apart. This will be your starting position.
- Begin by jumping with both feet over the first cone, swinging both arms as you jump.
- Absorb the impact of landing by bending the knees, rebounding out of the first leap by jumping over the next cone.
- Continue until you have jumped over all of the cones.
Muscles worked
- Quads (primary): extends the knee to drive squats, lunges and jumps.
- Glutes (secondary): extends and stabilises the hip — the engine behind hinges, squats and sprints.
- Calves (secondary): points the foot to power push-off and steady the ankle.
- Hamstrings (secondary): bends the knee and extends the hip through hinges and pulls.
Sets & reps by goal
| Goal | Sets × reps | Load | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strength | 3–5 × 3–5 | Heavy (~85%+) | 2–3 min |
| Hypertrophy | 3–4 × 8–12 | Moderate (~65–75%) | 60–90 s |
| Endurance | 2–3 × 15–20 | Lighter (~50–60%) | 30–45 s |
Pick the row that matches your goal. If you're newer, anchor in the hypertrophy range while you groove the form.
Form tips
- Keep the knees tracking in line with the toes and push the whole foot into the floor.
- Set the seat and pads so the machine's pivot lines up with the joint you're training before your first rep.
- Land softly through the whole foot with bent knees to absorb the force, and reset fully between reps.
- Warm up the pattern with a couple of lighter, submaximal sets before your working sets.
Common mistakes
- Letting the knees cave inward as you push out of the bottom.
- Leaving the seat or range on a setting that forces the joint into an awkward angle.
- Landing stiff-legged or with locked knees, which spikes the load on the joints.
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does Front Cone Hops (or hurdle hops) work?
Front Cone Hops (or hurdle hops) mainly works the quads, with the glutes, calves, hamstrings helping as secondary movers.
What equipment do I need for Front Cone Hops (or hurdle hops)?
Front Cone Hops (or hurdle hops) needs the corresponding weight-stack or plate-loaded machine.
How many sets and reps should I do for Front Cone Hops (or hurdle hops)?
It depends on your goal: about 3–5 sets of 3–5 heavy reps for strength, 3–4 sets of 8–12 for muscle growth, or 2–3 sets of 15–20 for endurance. Pick the row that matches your goal. If you're newer, anchor in the hypertrophy range while you groove the form.
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