So the quesiton popped into my mind today as I was setting up to do leg extensions. How strong should my hamstrings be compared to my quads?
1:1? 1:2? What about other muscle groups?

Anyone able to shed some light on this. The Men's Health Hard-Body plan book mentions that your quads should be stronger than hams because they are a larger muscle. I think I also read somewhere on bodybuilding.com that someone had no problems at all having stronger hamstrings, though I can't find it now, if I do, I'll link it.

I realize there probably isn't a perfect answer, but I'm really curious about this, and would like to avoid any injuries related to having imbalances.

I've been wondering this recently too...anyone?

Thinking back, my personal ratio was 1.5:1 prior to taking a leg-break from a foot condition.

A previous post of mine to s similar question:
There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of recomendations on "desirable" exercise loads out there. The only one I have seen repedatly is hamstring to quad using a leg curl and leg extension machine. Leg curl should be at least 80% of leg extension. 1:1 would be safer, 80% is the minimum you should allow without a serious attempt to adjust. I have a bench to bent-over row ratio of just about 1:1 and am happy with that. I also think that tricep to bicep should be about 1:1.

I often look at logs of other lifters to see what they are lifting, and a history of their programs to see if they lift in a balanced way to get ideas of lifting ratios.

And my defence against the argument for tricpe being bigger, should be stronger(applies for hamstring also) is that the bicep is a flexor so while the actuall muscle may be weeker the movement of a curl has a leverage advantage over an extension.

Also here is an article that I linked to before Craig Ballantyne's newsletter (http://www.cbathletics.com/issues/10.htm) that talks about strength ratios. Craig is a top notch strength trainer, I always listen to him.

i think its quite hard to tell for sure on the muscles, perhaps easier if you ask for specifik exercises that works the quads or hamstrings

Also here is an article that I linked to before Craig Ballantyne's newsletter (http://www.cbathletics.com/issues/10.htm) that talks about strength ratios. Craig is a top notch strength trainer, I always listen to him.

Cool, thanks for posting that. Exactly what I was looking for and gives me a good starting point for researching it more.