Sleeves vs Wraps

[Van_Bilderass]

I usually squat between the 3rd and 4th frame, always deep.
My best front squat, a few years back, was 425, dropped 455. Now? No idea. If I remember, I'll try some next week and see where I'm at.

I never really got into them much as they are so uncomfortable on your collarbone. You would adapt pretty quickly though if you stuck with it. If done to load the quads they might not be that advantageous either, at least that's what a few biomechanics experts say on IG 

[chaos]

I never really got into them much as they are so uncomfortable on your collarbone. You would adapt pretty quickly though if you stuck with it. If done to load the quads they might not be that advantageous either, at least that's what a few biomechanics experts say on IG 

I found I get swelling on my left collarbone, like a golf ball under the skin type swelling.

[Griffith]

I used to do full rep squats now do them the same way in the video I posted above.

Have better results and no knee or lower back pain.

With that way tension is kept on the muscle at all times. Same applies to other exercises.

[Primemuscle]

Since the widespread introduction of the 45 degree leg press you don't see people squatting as much - but it used to be very common.  In my college gym I hardly ever saw anyone using sleeves for squats.

My back and knees prefer the 45 degree leg press to squatting. 

[Primemuscle]

We had kids squatting 400+ when i played football in HS. Granted i went to a well known 5A HS in Texas that was known for having big boys.

Not a bunch of them, but i remember a handful of guys doing it. Mainly the big linemen. A 250 pound 6'3" 18 year old kid squatting 400 isn't that crazy IMO. Many of these kids had been lifting for 5-6 years already.

We never did front squats in HS.

I like front squats when I can do them on a machine

[bhank]

The real question is how much is the stress switching to the glutes and hamstrings as you go deeper. What are we trying to train. If you want more glute and hamstring activation go deeper. I am actually concerned the squats are not hitting my quads enough. We have all seen people doing massive squats with no leg development

I will say this since I started squatting again my appetite and weight have increased

[ProudVirgin69]

The real question is how much is the stress switching to the glutes and hamstrings as you go deeper. What are we trying to train. If you want more glute and hamstring activation go deeper. I am actually concerned the squats are not hitting my quads enough. We have all seen people doing massive squats with no leg development

I will say this since I started squatting again my appetite and weight have increased

Good point, and I think going for weight over mind-muscle connection is also to blame.  The glutes-hams are prime movers and can easily take over if you go too heavy

[Van_Bilderass]

The real question is how much is the stress switching to the glutes and hamstrings as you go deeper. What are we trying to train. If you want more glute and hamstring activation go deeper. I am actually concerned the squats are not hitting my quads enough. We have all seen people doing massive squats with no leg development

I will say this since I started squatting again my appetite and weight have increased

For quads you want the knee travel over your toes or as far in front as possible, maximal knee flexion. Upright posture.
*use wedges under heels* For the posterior chain including glutes you want to lengthen the glutes maximally, tryin to keep the shins perpendicular and "sitting back" into a squat, the opposite of a quad dominant squat. You will need to bend over more. Lower bar placement may be advatageous.

[bhank]

For quads you want the knee travel over your toes or as far in front as possible, maximal knee flexion. Upright posture. For the posterior chain including glutes you want to lengthen the glutes maximally, tryin to keep the shins perpendicular and "sitting back" into a squat, the opposite of a quad dominant squat. You will need to bend over more. Lower bar placement may be advatageous.

Yes they claim lower bar and wider allows you to squat more. I usually try different variations if doing multiple sets anyway. I think the main benefit is just waking up the bodies anabolic response to be honest. I am having bad tendonitis in my arm anyway so going to focus on squats and eating for a couple weeks. Can feel the body needs rest and calories was overtrained as always.

[Primemuscle]

The real question is how much is the stress switching to the glutes and hamstrings as you go deeper. What are we trying to train. If you want more glute and hamstring activation go deeper. I am actually concerned the squats are not hitting my quads enough. We have all seen people doing massive squats with no leg development

I will say this since I started squatting again my appetite and weight have increased

I read many times that the squat is the best all around exercise a person can do. I think you have to do some additional exercises if you have hard to develop quads.

When on long drives and I have to stop for gas, I jump out of the car and do a couple of sets of bodyweight squats. I always feel invigorated afterwards.

-Can't give advice on developing big muscular quads because I've never managed to develop them. The biggest they've ever been, if I remember correctly, was 26" and that was when I weighed 225 lbs.

Leg extensions are fun because you can see all the cuts in your quads while doing them. I'm not sure they do much for growing them.

[Dave D]

I read many times that the squat is the best all around exercise a person can do. I think you have to do some additional exercises if you have hard to develop quads.

When on long drives and I have to stop for gas, I jump out of the car and do a couple of sets of bodyweight squats. I always feel invigorated afterwards.

-Can't give advice on developing big muscular quads because I've never managed to develop them. The biggest they've ever been, if I remember correctly, was 26" and that was when I weighed 225 lbs.

Leg extensions are fun because you can see all the cuts in your quads while doing them. I'm not sure they do much for growing them.

Hey Prime what are these long rides you’re referring too? I thought, based on your car’s mileage, you average less than 6000 miles of driving a year?

[wes]

The real question is how much is the stress switching to the glutes and hamstrings as you go deeper. What are we trying to train. If you want more glute and hamstring activation go deeper. I am actually concerned the squats are not hitting my quads enough. We have all seen people doing massive squats with no leg development

I will say this since I started squatting again my appetite and weight have increased

High reps,narrow stance,feet straight forward,slightly below paralell....this finally put a bit of muscle on my skinny legs.

[bhank]

I read many times that the squat is the best all around exercise a person can do. I think you have to do some additional exercises if you have hard to develop quads.

When on long drives and I have to stop for gas, I jump out of the car and do a couple of sets of bodyweight squats. I always feel invigorated afterwards.

-Can't give advice on developing big muscular quads because I've never managed to develop them. The biggest they've ever been, if I remember correctly, was 26" and that was when I weighed 225 lbs.

Leg extensions are fun because you can see all the cuts in your quads while doing them. I'm not sure they do much for growing them.

We have all read that but squats also used to be the only option. Dorian did not due squats and had massive legs he felt leg press and hack squats suited his structure better. Honestly my quads seem to grow better from leg extensions than presses or squats but will give it a couple weeks always good to switch things up.

[wes]

We have all read that but squats also used to be the only option. Dorian did not due squats and had massive legs he felt leg press and hack squats suited his structure better. Honestly my quads seem to grow better from leg extensions than presses or squats but will give it a couple weeks always good to switch things up.

Dorian built his initial size with squats then later abandoned them for Leg Presses etc.

[Griffith]

Dorian built his initial size with squats then later abandoned them for Leg Presses etc.

Yes. He said he built his foundation with squats but they aggravated a back injury so he switched to leg press and smith machine squats.

[Van_Bilderass]

Yes. He said he built his foundation with squats but they aggravated a back injury so he switched to leg press and smith machine squats.

It was a bad hip. I think he had surgery on it.

You can get the quads much closer to failure with angled leg presses for example, compared to squats. You are stable and locked in and it's not your back or whatever that fails like with squats.

[Primemuscle]

Hey Prime what are these long rides you’re referring too? I thought, based on your car’s mileage, you average less than 6000 miles of driving a year?

Those long rides are ancient history. When the kids were young and we still had family in L.A. we would drive down to visit every few years. The Mazda has less than 30,000 miles on it in 5 1/2 years. So yeah, less than 6,000 a year on average. Since 'COVID' happened, my business meetings are held using Zoom. There are days when the car never leaves the garage. I should probably look into getting my auto insurance lowered since I drive so little.

[Primemuscle]

It was a bad hip. I think he had surgery on it.

You can get the quads much closer to failure with angled leg presses for example, compared to squats. You are stable and locked in and it's not your back or whatever that fails like with squats.

There are many ways to do squats each has both pros and cons. I like doing 'chair' squats using a low stool so I barely break parallel. Some people say this can hurt your back. This is true if you bounce off the chair or stool, not if you barely touch it.