I would have to say that any type barbell squat is a good exercise. However, I wouldn’t place front squats ahead of traditional back squats in my mass building program.
Front squats are a difficult exercise. They command a lot more skill and flexibility than regular squats. Generally much less weight can be used in the front squat compared to traditional squats. Therefore, the muscle growth stimulus from this exercise is much less than what can be obtained with regular squats.
However, if front squats are in your leg routine as an adjunct to regular squats, then I believe this exercise is a good choice for advanced (strong) bodybuilders. Front squats build tremendous “core strength” (lower back, abdominal and hips) that provides a beneficial effect to other exercises.
To perform front squats correctly, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart with toes pointed out slightly. Grasp the bar with your hands pronated (palms toward your body) and hold the bar to your chest (and front delts) by keeping your elbows raised at all times. Once you’re in this starting position, descend until your thighs are parallel to the floor (just as you would in a regular squat). Then explode forcefully out of the thigh parallel position.
Remember that the front squat is an exercise that requires a great deal of skill and balance, so initially be conservative in the amount of weight you use and increase overload gradually. One thing to remember is to never droop your shoulders forward while performing the front squat. This could cause you to drop the weight and more importantly puts unnecessary compression stress on your AC joint.
