Target tension.: Whether the muscle you’re training is what gives out first, not your grip, balance or other muscles.
Loaded stretch.: How hard the muscle works while stretched. Training it there is linked to more growth.
Progression.: How easily you can keep adding weight in small steps over months and years.
Low cost.: How easy it is on your joints and recovery, and how quickly you can learn it.

The research score comes from these, scored by hand from the studies. Lifter scores appear once an exercise has 10 ratings. How scores work

When each one fits

Good reasons to choose ab wheel rollout

You want more load on the abs while they’re stretched
You want to keep adding weight in small steps
You want to train more muscles at once

Good reasons to choose reverse crunch

You want something easy to learn
You want something easier on your joints
You want to train the abs on their own

Ab Wheel Rollout

Reverse Crunch

You need

Nothing but the floor

Skill

Takes some practice

Easy to learn

Type

Compound

Isolation

Why they rank where they do

Ab Wheel Rollout. Hard work for the abs in a stretched position, but difficult to progress and tough on the lower back if form slips.

Questions

Which is better for your abs, ab wheel rollout or reverse crunch?

For your abs, ab wheel rollout rates well ahead on our research criteria: more stretch, easier to progress. Reverse crunch is easier on the joints.

Is ab wheel rollout or reverse crunch easier to learn?

Reverse crunch is easier: it’s easy to learn, while ab wheel rollout takes some practice.

Can you do ab wheel rollout or reverse crunch at home?

Ab wheel rollout needs no equipment, so you can do it anywhere. Reverse crunch needs no equipment, so you can do it anywhere.

Which is easier on the joints, ab wheel rollout or reverse crunch?

Reverse crunch: it rates Excellent for joint and recovery cost in our research rubric, against Good for ab wheel rollout.

More comparisons

Ab Wheel Rollout Reverse Crunch All abs exercises

Ab Wheel Rollout vs Reverse Crunch

For your abs, ab wheel rollout rates well ahead on our research criteria: more stretch, easier to progress.

Reverse crunch is easier on the joints.

What these mean

Target tension.: Whether the muscle you’re training is what gives out first, not your grip, balance or other muscles.
Loaded stretch.: How hard the muscle works while stretched. Training it there is linked to more growth.
Progression.: How easily you can keep adding weight in small steps over months and years.
Low cost.: How easy it is on your joints and recovery, and how quickly you can learn it.