GMWD Pendulum Squat Review: Almost Great, But Not for Everyone

The GMWD Pendulum Squat Machine (PS01) is one of those pieces that is almost great.

That is what makes it interesting. And it is also what makes it hard to recommend broadly.

Model	Pros & Cons	Rating
GMWD Pendulum Squat Machine (PS01) Use code KING5 for 5% off	Pros: Smooth, natural pendulum squat movement Balanced resistance curve (not overly heavy in the bottom) Compact footprint for this type of machine Spring counterbalance saves space and plates Easy racking/unracking with dual mechanisms Angled weight horns eliminate need for collars Excellent value for beginner/intermediate lifters Cons: Frame lift and flex under heavier loads Back pad support raises durability concerns Front handle feels underbuilt under tension Springs may lose tension over time Minor QC/assembly inconsistencies	Rated 4.0 out of 5 View product page

If you are in the right strength range, this is actually a very compelling budget pendulum squat machine. It delivers a legit pendulum squat feel, a surprisingly balanced resistance curve, a relatively compact footprint for this type of machine, and a price that is far below most competing pendulum squat machines.

But if you are a stronger lifter, this machine starts to show limitations that are hard to ignore.

After using this machine, my conclusion is pretty simple: the GMWD Pendulum Squat is a very good buy for many beginner and intermediate lifters on a budget, but it falls short for stronger users and is not something I plan to keep long-term in my own gym.

Watch My GMWD Pendulum Squat Review Video

Watch my GMWD Pendulum Squat Machine video on YouTube:

My Overall Verdict

The GMWD Pendulum Squat Machine performs better than I expected in some important ways. The movement feels good, the resistance profile is better than I thought it would be, and the machine does a nice job delivering the quad-dominant training effect people are usually looking for from a pendulum squat.

At the same time, its budget construction shows up once the loads get heavier. The two biggest issues are frame lift and flex under load, plus a more concerning back pad support issue that makes me question long-term trust for stronger lifters.

So this is not a bad machine. It is just a machine with a clear ceiling.

Who This Machine Is For

The GMWD Pendulum Squat Machine makes the most sense for beginner to intermediate lifters who want a pendulum squat experience without paying premium money.

If you’re on a budget and do not realistically see yourself back-squatting over roughly 315 pounds for at least a few reps (NOTE: this is just a ballpark number!) anytime soon, I think this is actually a strong value. You get a real pendulum squat feel, good quad-focused training, solid usability, and a compact design for around the budget tier of this category.

If you are already a strong lifter, or know you are heading there soon, I would skip this and buy something beefier. For that type of user, this machine’s weaknesses matter too much.

I would also only recommend it to advanced lifters in a very narrow case: if you are using it mainly as a higher-rep finisher at the end of leg workouts rather than as a machine you plan to push hard and heavy on a regular basis.

Assembly Experience

Assembly was mostly fine, but not perfect.

It took around two or so hours to complete. The main issue I ran into was with the pendulum swing arm assembly. That part was ever so slightly crooked, so I had to force things into place more than I would have liked. There was also a burr in one of the bolt holes that needed to be dealt with before I could get the bolt through, which added some frustration to the process.

Once assembled, that slight crookedness was not something I really noticed during use. But it is still the kind of QC annoyance that is worth mentioning because it fits the broader picture here: decent value, decent performance, but with some budget-level rough edges.

ASSEMBLY TIP: When installing the springs, have someone else lift the pendulum swing arm (i.e. weight horn side) up high (i.e. overhead). This allows you to install the springs on the other end of the swing arm without having to try to stretch them out. If you don’t have someone to help, prop the swing arm up on a ladder.

Movement Feel and Resistance Curve

This is the strongest part of the GMWD Pendulum Squat.

The movement itself feels quite good. The arc is natural, and I had no issue getting full range of motion. More importantly, the resistance curve feels pretty balanced from top to bottom. It is not brutally heavy in the hole, which is a big deal on a pendulum squat. The springs do a decent job of lightening the bottom enough so you can get out of it without feeling like you are being buried.

That does not mean the spring system is better than a traditional plate-loaded counterbalance. It is not. A proper counterweight section generally gives a more refined feel and a better overall balance and resistance profile. But for a budget pendulum squat, the GMWD Pendulum Squat Machine performs much better than I expected here.

The motion is also pretty smooth. The swing arm on the GMWD machine has a little wiggle to it, but that is expected on a long lever like this, and even higher-end machines often have some play in that area. What matters is that it does not feel unstable in use. The swing arm is generally stable, and I have no major complaints about how it moves.

In fact, most of the movement I’ve experienced from the swing arm moving side to side is actually from the frame itself swaying, which happens particularly at heavier weights.

Training Effect: Very Quad Dominant

This is absolutely a quad-focused machine.

That is not a criticism. It is the whole point of a pendulum squat. Yes, you can make some modest adjustments through stance width, stance height (i.e. higher on the plate), and footplate angle, and those changes can shift a bit more emphasis toward the glutes and hamstrings. But no matter how you set it up, your quads are going to do the bulk of the work.

I’ve gotten some excellent quad pumps from this machine, especially in higher-rep sets over 10 reps where it really lights up the quads.

That also means the PS01 is less versatile than something like a leg press. A leg press lets you shift emphasis between quads and hamstrings more meaningfully through foot placement and overall setup. A pendulum squat is much more specialized. Compared to a hack squat, though, the overall training intent is pretty similar, since both are generally quad-dominant.

So if you are shopping for a machine specifically to hammer the quads, the GMWD PS01 Pendulum Squat makes sense. If you are looking for a more balanced lower-body machine, this probably is not the direction I would go, and you may want to check out something like the Force USA Compact Leg Press & Hack Squat Machine.

Spring Counterbalance: Smart Budget Tradeoff

One of the more interesting parts of the PS01 is the spring-based counterbalance setup.

Most pendulum squats use an actual counterweight section that you load with plates. That design is usually better from a pure performance standpoint. But it also takes up more space, adds cost, and requires you to dedicate some of your plates to counterbalancing the machine before you even start loading your working sets.

The GMWD approach is clearly aimed at saving money and space. And to be fair, it succeeds at both.

The springs help keep the footprint smaller, simplify the design, and let you use more of your plates for actual training rather than for counterweight duty. In a home gym, those are real advantages.

There are tradeoffs, though. The springs make some noise during reps. It is not a huge issue, but you definitely notice it. The bigger question is long-term durability. Springs can lose tension over time, so even though they work well enough right now, they represent more of a long-term unknown than a traditional plate-loaded counterbalance would.

Usability and Day-to-Day Use

Overall usability is good.

Getting in and out is a little awkward, but that is just the nature of a pendulum squat. You basically have to wedge yourself in at an angle while holding a partial squat position between the pads and footplate before unracking. That is not a flaw unique to this machine.

One thing worth noting is that entry is only on one side. When standing in the machine with your back against the pad, the open side is on your left. That matters when it comes to your gym layout. Depending on what equipment is around it, you may need to orient the machine a certain way to make entry practical.

Racking and unracking are easy enough. The front handle doubles as the racking mechanism, and there is also an external lever on the side that does the same thing. There are two rack heights for accommodating shorter and taller users.

That said, the front handle feels a bit underbuilt. It is not flimsy, but it has more give to it than I would like. When you are pulling hard against it during a more intense set, you can feel some flex. It is another area where the budget nature of this machine becomes obvious.

Fit, Range of Motion, and Footplate Adjustment

Fit was better than I expected.

At 5’11”, I had no issue getting full range of motion at the bottom and racking on the top pin. My wife, at 5’1″, was also able to get in, use the lower pin, and get full range of motion at both the top and bottom.

GMWD lists on their product page that the user height range is 4’11” to nearly 6’3″. And from what I personally tested, at least the shorter end of the listed fit range seems legit. Unfortunately, I didn’t have anyone around 6’3″ to test the upper end of the range, but in my research, I did see a couple of anecdotes from customers online around that height, who it worked for.

The footplate angle is easy to adjust with a pop pin. There are four settings, and I personally prefer the steepest angle. That setting feels the most comfortable for me and makes it very easy to get deep.

The footplate itself does not slide closer or farther away the way it does on something like the Temple of Gainz Pendulum Squat Machine. That is a premium feature that I would not expect at this price, so I do not really hold that against GMWD.

The footplate also is not huge, but it is large enough for most reasonable stance preferences, and pendulum squats generally are not the kind of machine where you are taking an extremely wide stance anyway.

There is also an adjustable safety stop under the back pad area. It uses a pop pin and telescoping design, and it worked as expected.

I was able to set it just below my working range of motion so it could catch me if needed.

Pad Comfort

Pad comfort is fine, but unremarkable.

The shoulder pads and back pad feel very average. They are not overly hard, but they are not especially comfortable or premium either. The upholstery has a slight texture and a mildly grippy feel, but not enough that I would really call it a notable feature.

This is another area where the machine feels acceptable for the money without standing out.

Build Quality Under Load

This is where things start to change.

At lighter to moderate weights, I think the GMWD Pendulum Squat Machine performs really well for the price. But once the loads get heavier, the cracks start to show.

The first major issue is frame lift. On the end opposite the weight sleeves, the base starts to lift slightly off the floor under heavier loads. For me, that became noticeable somewhere around the 150- to 170-pound range and above (depending on tempo).

It is not like the machine feels like it is going to flip over, but it is definitely not reassuring to see, especially when you are suspended in that vulnerable pendulum squat position between the pads and footplate.

Along with that, you can also see some sway in the upright area in front of you. Visually, it just does not inspire confidence when the machine is being pushed harder.

Now, to GMWD’s credit, I brought this up to them and they took the feedback seriously. Their response was that the movement is caused by inertia under heavier dynamic use, especially when stopping near the top, and that it remains within safe operational behavior. They also suggested maintaining more constant tension, avoiding abrupt lockouts, and ensuring the machine is on level ground.

Here is a screenshot of their full response:

I understand their position. But I also think my training style here is pretty normal real-world use, especially for someone pushing heavier sets. I do not want to have to alter normal hard training just to make a machine behave better. I would rather the machine be built well enough to handle it.

I did try flipping the machine 180 degrees in my garage, which has the typical slight slope toward the doors.

That actually did seem to reduce, if not eliminate, the frame lift issue because the slope in that orientation effectively pushed that end of the machine into the ground.

This is a useful workaround. But it will not be feasible for everyone, since some layouts will not allow that orientation due to the single-side entry. And even when the lift improves, the general frame flex is still visually hard to ignore.

If I had to suggest a partial fix for the frame lift and frame flex/sway, adding optional weight plate holders low on the base could help weigh that end of the machine down and stabilize it to an extent. The more complete fix would simply be a beefier frame, but that would almost certainly drive the price up enough to undermine the machine’s whole budget appeal.

The Bigger Concern: Back Pad Support

The more serious issue, in my opinion, is the back pad support structure.

GMWD says they upgraded this area with improved welds and added reinforcement plates, and I do want to give them credit for that.

But when using heavier weights, especially if I drive back more through my hips and lower back rather than staying more through the shoulders and upper back, I sometimes hear noises that sound like the wood inside the pad is starting to splinter or crack. Specifically, I’ve heard them when I’ve had around 180 or 190 pounds loaded on.

It has not actually failed. But hearing that kind of sound under load is enough to make me question how much I want to trust this machine long term under heavier use.

The fix I would suggest here is straightforward: add welded reinforcement plates along the spine of the back pad support, like what you see on most weight benches and higher-end pendulum squats. That seems like a low-cost change that could do a lot to better support and protect that structure under heavier loads.

Weight Horns and Loading

The weight horns are well done.

They angle upward enough that collars are not necessary, which is a nice usability win. That means you can use the full available sleeve length if needed, especially if you are loading thicker bumper plates.

For most people, sleeve length should be sufficient. One of the nice things about pendulum squats in general is that they do not require as much weight as you might expect to create a hard set.

If you are using thinner iron plates, maxing out the horns is even less likely. If you are strong enough that horn capacity is even a serious consideration here, you are definitely already the kind of lifter who should buy a much heavier-duty pendulum squat anyway.

Finish and Overall Refinement

The finish is very much in line with the machine’s price point.

It is a standard budget finish. There are a few areas where chipping showed up, and once the finish chips in those spots, it does seem like it wants to keep chipping there. That said, I do not view this as a major issue on this particular machine because it is not the kind of piece where you are likely to be smashing plates and accessories into the frame the way you might on a rack.

More broadly, the GMWD Pendulum Squat Machine just lacks the refinement of a more premium product. There are plenty of little (and not-so-little) tells throughout the design and feel that remind you this is a budget unit. But in many areas, those compromises are reasonable, if not expected, given the price.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Smooth, natural pendulum squat movement
• Balanced resistance curve (not overly heavy in the bottom)
• Compact footprint for this type of machine
• Spring counterbalance saves space and plates
• Easy racking/unracking with dual mechanisms
• Angled weight horns eliminate need for collars
• Excellent value for beginner/intermediate lifters

Cons

• Frame lift and flex under heavier loads
• Back pad support raises durability concerns
• Front handle feels underbuilt under tension
• Springs may lose tension over time
• Minor QC/assembly inconsistencies

Price

At around $800 to $900 (before figuring in the 5% discount from code KING5), the GMWD PS01 sits firmly in the budget tier for pendulum squat machines, which is a major part of its draw.

For the right user, this is an excellent value. You’re getting a legit pendulum squat experience, solid usability, and a compact design at a price point that’s significantly lower than most alternatives.

But that value is conditional.

If you’re a beginner or intermediate lifter, the price-to-performance ratio here is very strong. If you’re a stronger lifter, though, the durability limitations start to outweigh the savings.

At that point, it makes more sense to spend more upfront on a machine that can handle heavier, long-term use, such as the Bells of Steel Pandemonium Squat or even the Temple of Gainz Pendulum Squat Machine. They cost more, which stinks if you were hoping to get away with something under a thousand bucks, but that’s just the price you pay for being strong!

My Rating

Final Recommendation

So if you are considering the GMWD Pendulum Squat Machine, here is the short version of my recommendation.

• Buy it if: You are a beginner or intermediate lifter on a budget, you want a legit quad-focused pendulum squat, and you do not realistically see yourself becoming a heavy, high-output user on this machine anytime soon.
• Skip it if: You are already a strong lifter, are close to that level, or simply want a machine you can grow into without questioning the structure under heavier loads.

For the right person, this is a very good buy. It delivers a real pendulum squat experience, good training effect, compact design, decent usability, and strong value.

For the wrong person, it is a stepping-stone purchase that you may outgrow or lose trust in pretty quickly.

Final Thoughts

The GMWD Pendulum Squat is frustrating because it gets a lot right.

The movement feels good. The quad stimulus is excellent. The spring setup makes sense for a budget home gym machine. The usability is solid. And at its price, it offers something that very few machines do: a real pendulum squat feel without premium-machine pricing.

But the frame lift and flex under heavier loads, along with the back pad support concern, prevent me from recommending it to stronger lifters.

If GMWD addresses those issues, this could become a genuinely standout budget pendulum squat for a much wider range of users.

That said, there are still many beginner and intermediate lifters for whom this machine is a great choice. If you are one of those people and you’re thinking of buying the GMWD Pendulum Squat Machine, consider using my affiliate link below as well as my exclusive coupon code to save 5%:

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