Front squats - Olympic grip or bodybuilder's grip?

[Zach Trowbridge]

I've been doing a lot of front squatting lately since my back is having some issues and back squats are a big no-no.  I used to use a hands-crossed grip similar to what you see most bodybuilders use.  But lately I've been using an Olympic lifter's grip - hands shoulder width and elbows up high, "racking" the bar on my shoulders.  I like the Olympic grip because it's easier to hold, but I have to drop the weight by about 20-30 lbs compared to if I cross my hands in front of me.  Any idea what might be causing that?  I would have expected to squat more since I'm more comfortable with the Olympic grip.

[Cap]

I've been doing a lot of front squatting lately since my back is having some issues and back squats are a big no-no.  I used to use a hands-crossed grip similar to what you see most bodybuilders use.  But lately I've been using an Olympic lifter's grip - hands shoulder width and elbows up high, "racking" the bar on my shoulders.  I like the Olympic grip because it's easier to hold, but I have to drop the weight by about 20-30 lbs compared to if I cross my hands in front of me.  Any idea what might be causing that?  I would have expected to squat more since I'm more comfortable with the Olympic grip.

Likely your wrist/forearm strength and flexibility.  I had that problem too but it can be quickly alleviated.

[thewickedtruth]

Likely your wrist/forearm strength and flexibility.  I had that problem too but it can be quickly alleviated.

i have to do it the "bodybuilder way" for that reason..no fucking way my hands will ever get back that far!

[PANDAEMONIUM]

I've been doing a lot of front squatting lately since my back is having some issues and back squats are a big no-no.  I used to use a hands-crossed grip similar to what you see most bodybuilders use.  But lately I've been using an Olympic lifter's grip - hands shoulder width and elbows up high, "racking" the bar on my shoulders.  I like the Olympic grip because it's easier to hold, but I have to drop the weight by about 20-30 lbs compared to if I cross my hands in front of me.  Any idea what might be causing that?  I would have expected to squat more since I'm more comfortable with the Olympic grip.

Why is your back having "some issues"?  Previous injuries?  How old are you?

[Zach Trowbridge]

Why is your back having "some issues"?  Previous injuries?  How old are you?

Compressed disc in my lumbar spine due to deadlifts done with the 8-sided plates that you find at some gyms.  When I brought the bar to the ground the plates on one side rolled away from me, and I was dumb and didn't reposition myself first. 
So half of the bar was dragging my thigh, the other half was about 6 inches away from it.  Since then a lot of the usual lifts that involve the lower back have been hard to do.

[wes]

Tape your wrists with athletic tape..............no more problems!