Increasing Strength

[LtL]

The way I see it low bar means you can't stay upright and you can't use your quads as much. It's kind of an either or deal isn't it? Either low bar with more back involvement or high bar and more quad.

[Fazc]

Hmmm. I have been working on the assumption they aren't mutually exclusive. The IPF guys, even the longer limbed fellows can squat upright with low bar.

[LtL]

Well they may not be mutually exclusive but there is a point of diminishing return surely. If that bar is properly low, you can't stay upright and keep the bar over your hips can you?

[Fazc]

Originally Posted by LtL

Well they may not be mutually exclusive but there is a point of diminishing return surely. If that bar is properly low, you can't stay upright and keep the bar over your hips can you?

But why not?

As long as I start the lift nice and upright. All I need is for my knees to shoot forward more as I descend, so my hips are more under the bar. The quads need to be stronger to enable this to happen though...

[5kgLifter]

Originally Posted by LtL

Well they may not be mutually exclusive but there is a point of diminishing return surely. If that bar is properly low, you can't stay upright and keep the bar over your hips can you?

Originally Posted by Fazc

But why not?

As long as I start the lift nice and upright. All I need is for my knees to shoot forward more as I descend, so my hips are more under the bar. The quads need to be stronger to enable this to happen though...

I'm with LtL, on this one, I also feel that if the bar is being positioned low, then eventually it's going to be a bind just to maintain it without it slipping, as it gets heavier, especially with a more upright squat as in the high bar positioning.

[Fazc]

That just isn't the case when I squat though, bear in mind we're only talking about a few inches up or down. I think the difference between High and Low bar is overblown, a few inches either way isn't going to change the lift, the majority of the difference comes from hip/torso alignment at the start which can be corrected whether you're doing low or high bar.

My last training video for example showed a relatively upright position as I stood with the weight, but where it comes undone is as I reach the bottom the quads aren't strong enough to allow the knees to move forward. This means the lower back/hips take the brunt of the load and the shins remain mostly vertical. The knock-on effect is that I lean forward more.

The 180 low bar I did today was swift, deep and upright as well.

All I need is stronger quads to enable me to squat 180+ the same as I can squat 180.

[Fazc]

Yep, the more I think about it quads is what I need. No doubt bar positioning makes some difference but if I can sit into the bottom position with my quads capable of handling a more knees-forward position the hips will be given room to come forward and this will allow my torso to stay more upright.

My recent quad focus has allowed for me to do this well enough with anything up to 180, now I need to move that up even further. Working those Fronts up to around 160-180 with the same form will give me all the quad strength I'll need.

[BendtheBar]

So chaps...

Going to get briefs that actually fit. Also thinking of reverse bands to tag team with them.

Thoughts on this for a raw squatter such as myself; bearded; pretty; man-about-bacon...

[LtL]

You'll be able to use both with your regular form. I think it will greatly help your raw numbers.

[Fazc]

I think it'll ruin your bottom end strength!