How to Do Single-Leg Lateral Hop
Start and end of one clean rep of Single-Leg Lateral Hop.
Quick facts
| Primary muscle | Quads |
|---|---|
| Secondary muscles | Glutes, Calves, Hamstrings |
| Equipment | Machine |
| Category | Plyometrics |
How to perform Single-Leg Lateral Hop
- Stand to the side of a cone or hurdle. To get into the start position, stand on one leg with your knee slightly bent.
- To begin, execute a counterjump to hop sideways over the cone.
- Land on your jumping leg, and immediately rebound out of it by jumping back to the start position.
- Continue hopping back and forth.
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.
- 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.
- 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 Single-Leg Lateral Hop work?
Single-Leg Lateral Hop mainly works the quads, with the glutes, calves, hamstrings helping as secondary movers.
What equipment do I need for Single-Leg Lateral Hop?
Single-Leg Lateral Hop needs the corresponding weight-stack or plate-loaded machine.
How many sets and reps should I do for Single-Leg Lateral Hop?
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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