Front Squat

[Princess L]

I thought that these would be the solution to my lower back squatting woes, so I paid $350 for a Westside safety squat bar. It turns out that it takes a regular back squat and rotates the weight further out over your toes, creating MORE shear force on your lower back. Worse.

With my dodgy shoulder holding front squats stable is a problem. Finally settled on Landmine Squats, which help me to maintain a good squat pattern and keep the weight centered and over my heels. Kinda homo looking, tho.

Try keeping the handles up like this vs down like the 2nd pic



not

[_aj_]

Try keeping the handles up like this vs down like the 2nd pic



not

Note that in the handles-up stance, the weights rotate forward, which increases the lever arm on the shear force on the low-back. I have tried them backwards, but that's even more awkward, even if the weights are rotated back.

[Donny]

Can't get away with front squats for the same reasons Waller mentioned above.
Recently dropped the weight on normal squats and placed a board under the heels and was amazed by the difference in feel, my reasons behind this was squats seemed to work my inner thigh and arse and have developed a rounded ass which I fucking hate. Will probably never flat foot squat again

I prefer Flat footed squatting front or back.. including Hacks with a Barbell. end of the Day if it works it works.

[wes]

I thought that these would be the solution to my lower back squatting woes, so I paid $350 for a Westside safety squat bar. It turns out that it takes a regular back squat and rotates the weight further out over your toes, creating MORE shear force on your lower back. Worse.

With my dodgy shoulder holding front squats stable is a problem. Finally settled on Landmine Squats, which help me to maintain a good squat pattern and keep the weight centered and over my heels. Kinda homo looking, tho.

Thanks for the tip aj......just Googles Landmine Squats and they are firast on the agenda next leg day.


Having trouble squatting lately due to back issues.

[wes]

If anyone can`t do Front Squats because the bar chokes you,simply hold the bar in the clean position.......this is the old school way to do them without throat/choking issues.


PS-some may have to tape or wrap the wrists at first.

[Princess L]

Note that in the handles-up stance, the weights rotate forward, which increases the lever arm on the shear force on the low-back. I have tried them backwards, but that's even more awkward, even if the weights are rotated back.

hmmm  disagree.  The camber of the bar keeps the weight distribution backside, vs front - at least for me.  Maybe you have a long torso?

[Donny]

Note that in the handles-up stance, the weights rotate forward, which increases the lever arm on the shear force on the low-back. I have tried them backwards, but that's even more awkward, even if the weights are rotated back.

Didn´t Dave Draper sell these ? saw a video of it before. also Frank zane sold a device for squats but front squats are unique

[_aj_]

hmmm  disagree.  The camber of the bar keeps the weight distribution backside, vs front - at least for me.  Maybe you have a long torso?

At 6'3" that kinda goes without saying. And I will be the first to admit that my squat problems are self-made. Squatted wrong for 25 years. Even had access to a first rate coach and declined in college. Good thinking  

I have been trying to unlearn so much poor muscle memory.

[Princess L]

Didn't hear a word he said, but the demo looks good to me.

[Henda]

I prefer Flat footed squatting front or back.. including Hacks with a Barbell. end of the Day if it works it works.

I think individual leverages have a lot to do with it, wor lass who is short can flat footed squat atg with a narrow stance and upright torso and hit the quads well whereas I have to spread out the stance a bit and once below parallel still have a lot of forward lean and ended up with chafing inner thighs and a arse that sticks out (which I fucking can't stand) but next to no outer quad development.

[mr.turbo]

I think individual leverages have a lot to do with it, wor lass who is short can flat footed squat atg with a narrow stance and upright torso and hit the quads well whereas I have to spread out the stance a bit and once below parallel still have a lot of forward lean and ended up with chafing inner thighs and a arse that sticks out (which I fucking can't stand) but next to no outer quad development.

let's see the ass pic

[Thin Lizzy]

I think individual leverages have a lot to do with it, wor lass who is short can flat footed squat atg with a narrow stance and upright torso and hit the quads well whereas I have to spread out the stance a bit and once below parallel still have a lot of forward lean and ended up with chafing inner thighs and a arse that sticks out (which I fucking can't stand) but next to no outer quad development.

6'3" guy, here.

For me, narrow stance = knee pain

Slightly wider than shoulder width stance with knees pointing out about 45 degrees = no knee pain.

Also, as a middle age lifter, I've found that most of the aches and pains magically go away when you take a few plates off the bar.

[Princess L]

6'3" guy, here.

For me, narrow stance = knee pain

Slightly wider than shoulder width stance with knees pointing out about 45 degrees = no knee pain.

Also, as a middle age lifter, I've found that most of the aches and pains magically go away when you take a few plates off the bar leave your ego at the door.

fixed 

[chaos]

Didn't hear a word he said, but the demo looks good to me.

Staring at her ass or his crotch?

[bigmc]

6'3" guy, here.

For me, narrow stance = knee pain

Slightly wider than shoulder width stance with knees pointing out about 45 degrees = no knee pain.

Also, as a middle age lifter, I've found that most of the aches and pains magically go away when you take a few plates off the bar.

best post in the thread

warm up properly too

[Rambone]

I've been doing nothing but front squats the past 2 weeks for my 1st exercise instead of back squats because my knees were bothering me. Feels so much better to me. Probably better for us over 6 feet tall folk

[mr.turbo]

240lbs for 3

[tommywishbone]

Unless you are a competitive Olympic Lifter, why in the fucking world would anyone do front squats?

[mr.turbo]

there's this new thing, they call it "cross-fit"

[Mawse]

Just wrap straps around the bar and pull up on them the whole time

[BB]

Just wrap straps around the bar and pull up on them the whole time

That is indeed the most comfortable way to do it for a rec. lifter I've found -

.

.

[mr.turbo]

[The True Adonis]

Front Squats only work for people who are narrow shouldered, short torso, short leg, small feet.

Most of the time if you do not fit any of those you will suck at it.

[Thin Lizzy]

I believe this back squat pic is taken from the same workout.

Notice how Platz is leaning forward some. By leaning, in addition to the knee joint,  the hips are also a lever and a fulcrum, hence the term "compound movement."

In front squats, the upright position, that Ritch mentioned, takes the hips out of the lever equation, and puts the main burden in the knee joint. You can get away with this for awhile, but eventually, you'll most likely have knee issues.

Of course, if you lean too far forward doing back squats, you'll have the same issue only in the lumbar area.

[herefortheglitter]

Nah.
But I have merrell flat foot barefoot runner shoes. NO, not the idiotic one's with the seperate toe's, lol...

HEY!!! I wear those (Vibrams) and they are amazing for balance. Haha