How to Do Hurdle Hops
Start and end of one clean rep of Hurdle Hops.
Quick facts
| Primary muscle | Quads |
|---|---|
| Secondary muscles | Glutes, Hamstrings, Calves |
| Equipment | Bodyweight |
| Category | Plyometrics |
How to perform Hurdle Hops
- Set up a row of hurdles or other small barriers, placing them a few feet apart.
- Stand in front of the first hurdle with your feet shoulder width apart. This will be your starting position.
- Begin by jumping with both feet over the first hurdle, 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 hurdle. Continue until you have jumped over all of the hurdles.
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.
- Hamstrings (secondary): bends the knee and extends the hip through hinges and pulls.
- Calves (secondary): points the foot to power push-off and steady the ankle.
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 |
Bodyweight movement: once you own the top of a rep range, progress by slowing the tempo, pausing at the hardest point, or moving to a harder variation instead of adding load.
Form tips
- Keep the knees tracking in line with the toes and push the whole foot into the floor.
- Own the largest range you can control with clean form before you chase extra reps.
- Land softly through the whole foot with bent knees to absorb the force, and reset fully between reps.
- Control the lowering phase — a 2–3 second descent builds more than dropping the weight.
Common mistakes
- Letting the knees cave inward as you push out of the bottom.
- Cutting the range short to squeeze out extra reps instead of owning each full one.
- Landing stiff-legged or with locked knees, which spikes the load on the joints.
Frequently asked questions
What muscles does Hurdle Hops work?
Hurdle Hops mainly works the quads, with the glutes, hamstrings, calves helping as secondary movers.
What equipment do I need for Hurdle Hops?
None — Hurdle Hops is a bodyweight movement, so you only need your bodyweight and a little space.
How many sets and reps should I do for 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. Bodyweight movement: once you own the top of a rep range, progress by slowing the tempo, pausing at the hardest point, or moving to a harder variation instead of adding load.
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