You can be a bit more specific and targeted with a Smith, depending on your leg position.

I do both nowadays. Barbell, high bar on days I bias towards quads and Smith when I bias towards the posterior

 

barbell squat has my vote for mass over anything, i used to do it religiously until i ruined my back by being a dick, and since cutting them out i did notice a slight drop in quad size!

 

Been using the pendulum squat instead of those the past 18 months, much prefer it.

 

The most humbling kit I've ever used. I mean my legs are weak anyway but I've only just started back

 

If you can squat. Squat.
If you don’t have the build to squat, don’t.
No exercise is needed.
I would always involved a squat pattern.

if I couldn’t bb squat, I wouldn’t waste time learning the skill if it wasn’t a sport specific need.

 

I used a pendulum machine in past few months . It was hard and my weight was pish lol 😂

really did hit the quads … l likey

 

If you are a beginner then squat & perfect form.

Once you move up to some decent weight & form / injury risk becomes an issue then consider switching out for alternative.

Until then squat.

 

Barbell squat

 

Hack for me. Would love to barbell but my lower back just wont tolerate it. Least with hack my back is supported

 

Cyclist squat.

 

I guess both are good when it comes to "make progression" , just compare the different famous Bodybuilders who train legs only by squat, leg press, leg curls or the other big guys who do hack squats instead of regular squats, they're all having big and strong legs.

I do both for example, sometime squat regular, sometimes squats on the smith machine, sometime all the sets only on hack squats. As long you do progression and feel good adding size on those quads....that's should be the goal.

Golden Rule when it comes to legs: Turn off your ego, do full range of motion and keep your mind connected with the specific muscle.

 

Hack squats I can barley lift 10k both sides. What even is my life haha.