Equipment
Landmine
A landmine is a floor-mounted or rack-attached pivot sleeve that holds one end of a barbell and allows it to rotate in an arc. The free end of the bar is loaded with weight and used as a handle for a wide range of pressing, rowing, squatting, and rotational movements. It is one of the most versatile and budget-friendly pieces of equipment in a strength and conditioning facility.
Why it shows up in almost every facility
The landmine’s fixed pivot point constrains the bar to an arcing path, which makes many movements more shoulder-friendly than their free-weight equivalents. Landmine presses work well for athletes who cannot overhead press due to shoulder limitations. Landmine rotations train the transverse plane in a way that few other loaded exercises replicate cleanly. The setup requires minimal floor space and the attachment hardware is inexpensive. You get a lot of exercise variety for a small footprint and cost.
Common applications
Landmine press and half-kneeling landmine press for shoulder development and stability. Landmine row for upper back. Landmine squat for athletes who struggle with goblet squat load or hip positioning. Landmine rotation and anti-rotation holds for rotational power and core stability. Single-leg Romanian deadlift variations. The movement pattern options are broad enough that some coaches run entire accessory programs off a single landmine station.
Related terms
Power Rack · Cable Machine · Functional Training Area