Squats count in the tower and in the arena the same way push-ups do: each full rep hits the monster in front of you.
How to do a squat the camera will count
Feet about shoulder width apart, hips back and down until your thighs are about level with the floor, then stand up straight. The phone stands in front of you with your whole body in view, and Pushgard counts the rep when your hips drop and your whole figure gets shorter.
Counted
This is what the front camera sees: the phone stands in front of you, whole body in the frame.
Four steps, one clean squat
Quads, glutes, hamstrings and your core all work in every rep.
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1Stand tall
Feet about shoulder width apart, toes turned out a little. Face the phone and stand straight for a moment before the first rep.
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2Sit back
Push your hips back and down as if sitting onto a low chair. Knees follow the line of your toes, chest stays up.
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3Bottom
Go down until your thighs are about level with the floor, or as low as you can with your heels down and your back straight.
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4Stand up
Drive through your whole foot until your hips and knees are straight again. That standing position starts the next rep.
What breaks a squat, and what to try instead
Common mistakes
- Quarter squats are quick and easy and don’t count. Sit lower, until your thighs are close to level.
- Folding forward at the waist moves your head, not your hips. Keep your chest up and push your hips back.
- Heels lifting off the floor shift you onto your toes. Keep the whole foot down.
- Knees falling inward strain the joint. Push them out in line with your toes.
Easier
Squat down to a chair or a low box and stand back up, or hold a door frame for balance. Both teach the depth before you try it free.
Harder
A slower way down, a two-second pause at the bottom, or more reps in each set with shorter rests.
Phone in front, whole body in view
Stand further back than for push-ups, so your feet are in the frame too.
The front camera reads your whole figure. Before the set the app checks that you are standing straight with your hips and feet in view, and it learns your standing height from that moment.
A squat counts when your hips drop far enough and your whole figure gets shorter, then both come back to standing. If only your head and shoulders go down, the app tells you to squat, not lean. If the rep is too shallow, it asks you to go lower.
How counting works All four exercises
This page explains technique; it is not medical advice. If you have an injury, a heart condition or pain during the movement, check with a doctor or physiotherapist first, and stop a set that hurts.
Squats, answered
Framing, missed reps, depth and balance.
Where does the phone go for squats?
In front of you, screen facing you, far enough back that your whole body fits in the frame, feet included. The app checks that your hips and feet are in view before the set starts.
Why was a squat not counted?
Two signals have to agree: your hips drop and your whole figure gets shorter. A quarter squat is too shallow, and leaning forward lowers your head without lowering your hips.
Do I need to go below parallel?
No. Go as deep as you can with your heels down and your back straight. The counter measures depth against your own standing height from the start of the set.
Can I hold onto something?
Yes, a door frame or the back of a chair helps with balance while you learn the movement, as long as it stays out of the way of your body in the frame.
Sources
- Schoenfeld BJ, 2010. Squatting kinematics and kinetics and their application to exercise performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 24(12).
Free on iPhone and Android
Your first squat hits a slime
Stand the phone in front of you, step back and do one set.