My Squats SUCK

[DaLinkWent]

I can't for the life of me figure out why my squats suck so bad. I'm 6'2" about 230lb and have some real good lifts for chest, back, bi, tri's etc but when it comes to squats I'm only able to get 315lb 6 times but the good thing is that they are deep, ass almost to the floor.

I can deadlift o.k. 365 six times and I can leg press almost 1200lbs. The leg press brings my knees down to my chest and back up and I can pull 6-8 times no problem.

I've tried just about everything I can think of to get improvements and I am seeing improvements in all my lifts except squats. Only thing I can think of adding is a belt.

Any thoughts? Maybe it;s bad form although I'm doin my best to mimick Pullin's form with squats cause those are by far the best form I;ve ever seen on squats

 

[blackbeard]

try box squats or pause squats

 

[DaLinkWent]

I tried the box squat and found the weight didn't go up and the form didn't feel quite right.

Pause squats are an idea though . . . . .Pausing at the bottom? I'm assuming this can be done at the weights I'm currently at

 

[pullinbig]

send me some clips of your work sets.

exmgq@hotmail.com.

il take a look and see if its a form issue.

whats your leg day look like?

and no you wont be able to pause as much as you can reg squat.

 

[DaLinkWent]

There is a coule who lift using a little camera so I'll see if they shoot my squats for me next time. Thanks. I appreciate the offer!

Leg day consists of squats 4 - 5 sets inclusing warm up and reps usually don't exceed 8. 3-4 sets of leg press, same on reps. 2-3 sets of lunges. 2-3 sets of stiff leg deads and some 2 sets of leg entensions and some calf work.

 

[blackbeard]

I tried the box squat and found the weight didn't go up and the form didn't feel quite right.

Pause squats are an idea though . . . . .Pausing at the bottom? I'm assuming this can be done at the weights I'm currently at

if the form didnt feel right then most likely you werent doing them the "correct" way..there are many ways to do them but ive found doing them very strict with no rocking, wider stance, and a puase on the box (not touch and go) has helped me a huge amount..


i would definitely send video to PB hell be able to help..also like he said you wont be able to use the same weights for pause squats that you do for reg squats

 

[iron addict]

if you ALWAYS squat, and especially if your leg day always starts with squats expect to get stuck and stay stuck. You need to change things up FREQUENTLY to keep progress good, and no, you don't have to always squat to bring your squat up. Good-mornings, deadlifts, box-squats, stiff-legged deadlifts, and other variastions will all help push your squat numbers up.

Iron Addict

 

[DaLinkWent]

Box squat video is interesting. That guy almost rocks back once he is seated and then gets up. That right?

I guess what is throwin me for a loop is the fact that I have seen progress in areas like leg press, stiff leg deads, lunges and calf raises. Everything BUT squats. SInce squats have a tendency to be such a core training method for legs I'd ideally like to have a decent squat numbers.

 

[blackbeard]

i wouldnt advise rocking..i would sit back and down, pause and then explode up...IA gave some good advice that i completely agree with too..

also try playing with your stance..wider is better

 

[DaLinkWent]

The wide stances I have seen almost resemble a pigeon toed stance. I think I'll try that along with the box squats and send my vid to pullin for a form check.

I didn't want to sounds like I was complaining in this thread, I saw it more as a problem that I needed some advice on and I'm glad y'all saw it that way. Thanks

 

[Firehawk734]

I'm having the same exact problems youa re man. Pullinbig is helping me out with my form, I am just EVEN WEAKER than you are when it comes to legs. I can't even squat an unloaded bar properly. I can't sit back without falling backward, I guess I don't have the strength in my glutes. It's pissing me off bigtime. I know exactly what he's telilng me to do and how to do it, I just can't do it, and it is frustrating to the point I'm about to give up on squats.

I'm going to do wall squats and box squats for awhile, hopefully that will help, HOPEFULLY i can do one of those wall squats properly. F'n frustrating as hell.

Hey blackbeard, on box squats, why is wider stance better? And how wide is too wide?

 

[blackbeard]

I'm having the same exact problems youa re man. Pullinbig is helping me out with my form, I am just EVEN WEAKER than you are when it comes to legs. I can't sit back without falling backward, I guess I don't have the strength in my glutes. It's pissing me off bigtime.

I'm going to do wall squats for awhile, hopefully that will help, HOPEFULLY i can do one of those properly. F'n frustrating as hell.

Hey blackbeard, on box squats, why is wider stance better? And how wide is too wide?

look at it this way you know your weakness..now just work it until it becomes a strong point..

wider overloads the hips/glutes and low back..those are the muscle that will lead to a big squat..

your width will be a function of your mobility/flexibility..i havent measured my stance but its way outside my shoulders typical wsb stance

 

[Firehawk734]

Ok great thanks. I think my weakness is my glutes/hips, because those are the muscles that get you out of that hole in a squat i think. I jsut can't sit back enough without falling backward.

I'm definitely not going to quit, I'm just blowing off steam is all. I will keep working on it until i get it.

Thanks alot for the advice, I'm so glad there's guys like you and Pullinbig around for help.

 

[blackbeard]

trust me we all have problems..they come and go and theyll change..its working on them and making them better and breaking through that makes lifting fun..at least for me anyway...

 

[Firehawk734]

I know what you mean, but it's one thing to be frustrated with your squat if you can do it properly and get it for 225, and are stuck there. It's anothe thing when your deadlift is fine, your bench is fine, and you can't even squat an unloaded bar properly.

It's just a tough pill to swallow. But, you are only as strong as your weak point so...

 

[blackbeard]

I know what you mean, but it's one thing to be frustrated with your squat if you can do it properly and get it for 225, and are stuck there. It's anothe thing when your deadlift is fine, your bench is fine, and you can't even squat an unloaded bar properly.

It's just a tough pill to swallow. But, you are only as strong as your weak point so...

i find my form is better with weight on the bar..an unloaded bar is too easy for things to fly everywhere..i still hit some reps with just the bar as part of a warmup but things get better the heavier i go..

so if your trying to work form issues with no weight i wouldnt i would put some weight on the bar just enough where itll help you reach depth but not too heavy where if youre not careful itll crush you

 

[1HUGE1]

is ass to floor better or does it depend on goals for what is better?

 

[huskyguy]

Ass to the floor--below parallel is better, less stress on the knees, more on the hips and glutes which can take that stress much better than your knees. Form is important when it comes to squats, because you are lifting heavy weight and bad form definitely can cause some long term injuries. Personally squats are my favorite exercise, but I still have a rational fear regarding squats that's why I am a stickler for good form.

 

[DADAWG]

sounds like box squatting would be perfect for you . and pullinbig KNOWS his shit when it comes to squatting

 

[Firehawk734]

Yeah I'm doing the box squats. He wants me to tape my box squat working set. I hope I can get going with these damn squats. I'm just frustrated.