Thread: Front squats in the smith machine?

Originally Posted by sassy69

Actually on the interwebs you can use punctuation for emphasis - e.g. a "period" implies stop and take a breath.

Thus, two words, emphasized by use of dramatic timing & delivery.

ahh....really...?

Originally Posted by juggernaut

ahh....really...?

Yes.

Really.

Originally Posted by sassy69

Yes.

Really.

you....complete.

me.

Originally Posted by davegmb

The will brink youtube demo has been removed for some reason, gutted. The strap idea looks great though.

Straps didn't work for me. Alternative grip



Semi standard "Olympic" grip



Cross over never worked for me

Thanks for posting that, Will. I meant to but was too lazy to find the link.

I've tried that one and while straps don't work for you, that grip doesn't work for me - but it's great to have a selection of options. ONE of 'em will work!

Originally Posted by Built

Thanks for posting that, Will. I meant to but was too lazy to find the link.

'Cause you don't wub me anymore...

Okay, so in both those videos there was some forward lean. Is that okay for front squats? When I do them I'm about 15 degrees shy of an upright torso and I feel some stress on my back. Not pain, just stress. But, I've seen instructional videos where the person is squatting practically low-bar! I thought they had to be done with a completely upright torso. This is why I've refrained from them the last 8 months or so. I thought maybe I was doing them wrong and risking lower back problems.

Originally Posted by Phineas

Okay, so in both those videos there was some forward lean. Is that okay for front squats? When I do them I'm about 15 degrees shy of an upright torso and I feel some stress on my back. Not pain, just stress. But, I've seen instructional videos where the person is squatting practically low-bar! I thought they had to be done with a completely upright torso. This is why I've refrained from them the last 8 months or so. I thought maybe I was doing them wrong and risking lower back problems.

Some slight forward bend will always occur. As long as you are keeping your spine neutral,from cervical to lumbar, you should be fine.

The forward lean is necessary to compensate for the hips traveling backwards. If you try keeping your spine perfectly perpendicular to the floor you will probably fall over. It is not a stable position to be in.

If you sit back in the squat while keeping your torso perpendicular to the floor, the heavy barbell will not be over your center of mass. That is not a good position to be in the exert upward force.

So basically you mainly need to concentrate on keeping the bar over your COM and keeping the spine neutral. Everybody is built differently so everyone articulates a bit differently.

Originally Posted by MyK 3.0

how much weight do you guys do with the front squat in comparison with your back squat.

When I could front squat 225 for ten reps I was probably back squatting around 300 for the same reps.

Originally Posted by Will Brink

Straps didn't work for me. Alternative grip



Semi standard "Olympic" grip



Cross over never worked for me

Thanks Will, the straps built suggested worked well when i tried them but enjoyed your video (esp the funky sound track lol) and will give that grip a try next week on my quad day. Is it me or do you look like Billy Crystal?! has anyone said that before?

That's rude. I'm liking these front squat novelties. I'm sure the really Billy would too.

Originally Posted by Hoglander

That's rude. I'm liking these front squat novelties. I'm sure the really Billy would too.

Why's it rude, its just a bit of fun and a compliment isnt it? Hes a big time film star and funny man, im sure Will can take it!?

Because Billy taught Carrot Top all of his secrets. IS THAT FUNNY???!!!

Let's show some respect here.

Originally Posted by Hoglander

Because Billy taught Carrot Top all of his secrets. IS THAT FUNNY???!!!

Let's show some respect here.

I dont know who carrot top is so im a bit confused, but im getting the feeling that im being told off so ill apologise, no disrespect intended at all just a bit of observation and fun thats all.

Originally Posted by davegmb

I dont know who carrot top is so im a bit confused, but im getting the feeling that im being told off so ill apologise, no disrespect intended at all just a bit of observation and fun thats all.

Carrot Top is a comedian (hangs out in Vegas these days I guess - his schtick is his goofy red hair - visual & prop comedy) who got all jacked up and studdish with some steroids and rather tragic cosmetic surgery.

Originally Posted by sassy69

Carrot Top is a comedian (hangs out in Vegas these days I guess - his schtick is his goofy red hair - visual & prop comedy) who got all jacked up and studdish with some steroids and rather tragic cosmetic surgery.

frightening but thanks for the info

Originally Posted by davegmb

Is it me or do you look like Billy Crystal?! has anyone said that before?

That's a first.

Originally Posted by fufu

Some slight forward bend will always occur. As long as you are keeping your spine neutral,from cervical to lumbar, you should be fine.

The forward lean is necessary to compensate for the hips traveling backwards. If you try keeping your spine perfectly perpendicular to the floor you will probably fall over. It is not a stable position to be in.

If you sit back in the squat while keeping your torso perpendicular to the floor, the heavy barbell will not be over your center of mass. That is not a good position to be in the exert upward force.

So basically you mainly need to concentrate on keeping the bar over your COM and keeping the spine neutral. Everybody is built differently so everyone articulates a bit differently.

Excellent! Thanks man! My back was always neutral. I just was worried that I shouldn't have any forward lean. I'll definitely put these back in at some point. They're the only one of the bilateral squat variations besides back and box squats that I ever liked. Although, I'm yet to try Sumo Squats.

Have you ever done overhead squats?

Tried them in warmups. Like them, but would do them only if I was using more than one or two lower pushes. I'd rather devote that slot to back squats.

Originally Posted by davegmb

Why's it rude, its just a bit of fun and a compliment isnt it? Hes a big time film star and funny man, im sure Will can take it!?

I have been called worse, that's for sure.