Deep Squats all the time or parallel

[rocket]

What do you think, aim to be deep or aim to go to parallel with more weight, occasionally doing deep squats?

I can see benefits on both sides.  Its tough to do decent weight with a full deep squat.

[trulytoned]

depends what you want to focuse on, if you wanna hit the glutes good to, go deep

[Dos Equis]

Always deep.  Best exercise in the gym IMO. 

[pumpster]

Parallel. Never went back to full squats.

[BallzDeep69]

I go all the way down until my ass is on my ankles.

[Bast175]

Just go a few inches below parallel.  No reason to go all the way down.  Most bodybuilders go only to parallel and don't have any problems.

[pumpster]

Just go a few inches below parallel.  No reason to go all the way down.

Agreed, there's a grey area that has to be found through trial and error. Shouldn't be too high or there's not enough effect, too low and it's hard on the knees and defeats the purpose of doing partials.

[WOOO]

Agreed, there's a grey area that has to be found through trial and error. Shouldn't be too high or there's not enough effect, too low and it's hard on the knees and defeats the purpose of doing partials.

i do squats in a similar fashion to deadlifts, first i do the full version, then the half version in a power rack to be able to use more weight...

for squats i will do 3 heavy working sets full ROM (10 reps each), then 3 more set (6 reps each) going just ABOVE parallel... i get a full stretch and i get to use really heavy weight safely...  anyway i do the same thing with deads, going to the floor first and then doing "top" deadlifts in the rack... i like the combination

[texasRUSH]

squats to parallel and leg presses to your ass... 

[Always Sore]

see i think it depends on your bodytype and comfort, i feel for me i tend to go deep as i warm up but when i get really heavy i tend to work slower and just parallel.

[BallzDeep69]

Now I'm not trying to sound delusionally cocky like Alexxx, even though that's also my own name, but I think I only a real man will go ass to the grass with heavy weight working sets like me.  That's why I have such a hot bubbly ass that makes Jessica Alba wet her panties!

[Geo]

and leg presses to your ass... 

not good for knees and even harder on your lower back if your fatigued from squatting

[Saskbb]

If you want to win a bb contest. Deep but with a controlable weight (leave your ego at the door)!!!!!

[Jr. Yates]

I seem to have trouble with always going all the way down....I really have to concentrate and squat very slow if im going to only go to parallel. Can definatly handle more weight if I don't go all the way down, im trying to isolate the quads on squats latley, don't want to bulid up glutes.

[WOOO]

I seem to have trouble with always going all the way down....I really have to concentrate and squat very slow if im going to only go to parallel. Can definatly handle more weight if I don't go all the way down, im trying to isolate the quads on squats latley, don't want to bulid up glutes.

glutes are muscles too... show 'em some love!

[Jr. Yates]

True but I think im just using them too much in my squats.....Sometimes i think the only reason why my quads get sore is from the negitive. Maybe its just in my head. I just don't want a Gustavo Glute going on thats all.

[Hedgehog]

Squats to below parallell and mix it up with box squats.

YIP
Zack

[shiftedShapes]

I think you should include box squats at various heights (just above parallel, just below parallel) and pistols (one leg squats, ass to calf)  Between these two exercises you are pretty much covering all of the squat bases.

[shiftedShapes]

I think you should include box squats at various heights (just above parallel, just below parallel) and pistols (one leg squats, ass to calf)  Between these two exercises you are pretty much covering all of the squat bases.

here's an article about learning pistols from elitefts: http://elitefts.com/documents/pistol_power.htm

you can add weight once you have the form down

[JPM]

Shoudn't have to break much below parallel when doing squats. If people prefer going all the way down, good for them. The ham's can be involved more, but for quad development arse to the ankles is not needed.  On the other side; I've been to a few coaches clinic's where they say that stopping at or a little below parallel is dangerious (there terms, not mine) to the whole knee structure. And can set you up for serious injury with too much tension directed to the knee joint(s). Interesting in any case, but I still break a little below parallel.

Those one legged squats can be a killer when first adding them to a workout. Can do them on a high bench, box, etc, where the leg does not have to be held out in front. Lot's of athletes do step-up as an added thigh workout, not to be confused with one legged squats. Step-up are a great exerise to add to anyone's training plan. Good Luck.