A loaded bar sits on your back, so this barbell back squat counter keeps its eyes on your knees instead of the bar and counts each rep out loud. Set the phone up, load the bar, and focus on the squat.
Both legs are read together, so there's no one-leg mode. Get settled with the bar across your upper back during the five-second countdown.
Phone setup
Stand the phone upright at chest height and step back a few steps, until your whole body fits in the frame, head to feet.
Turn slightly sideways to the phone, not square to it and not fully side-on; a small angle keeps both legs visible. The bar sits across your upper back.
- With the bar on your back, check the preview before your first rep: your head and feet both need to be inside the frame.
Form cues
- Bar across your upper back. Set it on the muscle shelf of your upper back rather than on your neck, and grip it evenly with both hands.
- Sit down into the squat. Lower until you reach the bottom of your squat, which is the far position of the rep.
- Keep your knees tracking. Let them follow the direction of your toes as you descend and rise.
- Stand all the way up. Rising to a full stand completes the rep, so finish tall before starting the next one.
Common mistakes
- Quarter squats. A squat that never reaches the bottom isn't counted. Sit down until you hit the bottom of your normal squat.
- Squaring up to the phone. Turn slightly sideways instead of facing the lens so both legs stay visible. A small angle is all it takes.
- Stepping out of the frame. Back up until your feet are in view as well, then check the preview before you squat.
How FitnessBruh counts it
The measurement is the angle at your knee, from hip to knee to ankle. Standing is the start, the bottom of the squat is the far position, and standing back up completes the rep.
Both legs are read together, and it reads your knees, not the bar. A quarter squat that never reaches the bottom isn't counted.
Counting waits for a steady view of your whole body, knees and ankles included, so step back until your feet are in the frame and hold still through the countdown.
FAQ
Where do I put my phone for barbell back squats?
Upright at chest height, a few steps back, with you turned slightly sideways so both legs stay visible and your whole body fits in the frame.
Does the counter track the barbell?
No, it reads your knees, not the bar. A quarter squat that never reaches the bottom isn't counted.
Why does counting wait for my whole body?
It needs a steady view of your whole body, knees and ankles included, before the first rep. Step back until your feet are in view and hold still during the countdown.
