Front Loaded Squats

Stretch · 11-02-2005, 05:04 PM

I'm kinda new to these, and I love 'em. I never see many people in the gym do squats this way. Not many people in my gym do squats anyway, it's mostly college guys doing curls-for-girls. But is there a reason why they are not more popular?

The13ig13adWolf · 11-02-2005, 05:43 PM

they're scared...

Tough Old Man · 11-02-2005, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

I'm kinda new to these, and I love 'em. I never see many people in the gym do squats this way. Not many people in my gym do squats anyway, it's mostly college guys doing curls-for-girls. But is there a reason why they are not more popular?

I don't think there necessary. If you use these three I think you'll achieve the quads your looking for.

1) Squats
2) Leg Presses
3) Hack Squats.

There's so many others that front just doesn't take space in my log book

The13ig13adWolf · 11-02-2005, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tough Old Man

I don't think there necessary.

i disagree.

BigDyl · 11-02-2005, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The13ig13adWolf

i disagree.

I agree.

cider303 · 11-02-2005, 06:42 PM

everytime i do hack squats i end up on my ass

ihateschoolmt · 11-02-2005, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tough Old Man

I don't think there necessary. If you use these three I think you'll achieve the quads your looking for.

1) Squats
2) Leg Presses
3) Hack Squats.

There's so many others that front just doesn't take space in my log book

Front squats>leg press and hack squats.

swordfish · 11-02-2005, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihateschoolmt

Front squats>leg press and hack squats.

Agreed. and ATG back squats> front squats and

ATG back squats= king of all exercises.

Squaggleboggin · 11-02-2005, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swordfish

Agreed. and ATG back squats> front squats and

ATG back squats= king of all exercises.

I disagree. ATG front squats > ATG back squats, such that ATG front squats are king of all exercises.

I've always felt like I've had a better workout with front squats (no, not the 'pump') and I also added over 20 pounds to my ATG back squat doing front squats exclusively for about six-eight weeks.

It's so much harder to hold the bar in front of you than to just rest it on your back - your wrists are strengthened and your back is used a ton more. It also absolutely forces you to have a perfect posture whereas with back squats you can be a little lazy if you're not careful.

swordfish · 11-02-2005, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squaggleboggin

I disagree. ATG front squats > ATG back squats, such that ATG front squats are king of all exercises.

I've always felt like I've had a better workout with front squats (no, not the 'pump') and I also added over 20 pounds to my ATG back squat doing front squats exclusively for about six-eight weeks.

It's so much harder to hold the bar in front of you than to just rest it on your back - your wrists are strengthened and your back is used a ton more. It also absolutely forces you to have a perfect posture whereas with back squats you can be a little lazy if you're not careful.

You can use more weight and the load is shifted from quads to more hams and glutes+ lower back, thus making the ATG back squat- king of all leg exercises. I think that front squats are GREAT, but back squats are that much better, especially when you get the form down and go deep. I'll bet you money that someone that can ATG back squat- 400x10 has bigger legs than someone that can do a front squat of 300x10 simply because the back squats require a little bit more of hams and glutes.

ihateschoolmt · 11-02-2005, 08:00 PM

Front squats work your whole body better. Back squats work your legs better.

Squaggleboggin · 11-02-2005, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swordfish

You can use more weight and the load is shifted from quads to more hams and glutes+ lower back, thus making the ATG back squat- king of all leg exercises. I think that front squats are GREAT, but back squats are that much better, especially when you get the form down and go deep. I'll bet you money that someone that can ATG back squat- 400x10 has bigger legs than someone that can do a front squat of 300x10 simply because the back squats require a little bit more of hams and glutes.

I still disagree. The fact that you can use more weight means nothing. You can use even more weight for the leg press than for the back squat, right? So, using that logic, the leg press would be king.

I'm not talking about size though - strictly strength. Of course, if someone can do 100 pounds more for one exercise than the other, you'd expect them ot be bigger. Use equal poundages, though, and the person who can front squat 400 is probably much stronger than the one who can back squat 400. Look at the olympic lifters. Some of them can front squat close to 1,000 and can probably do a raw back squat ATG more than just about any powerlifters. They have some real power, and it's from training the front squat.

Squaggleboggin · 11-02-2005, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ihateschoolmt

Front squats work your whole body better. Back squats work your legs better.

A succinct and accurate summary of my thoughts that I may have failed to communicate.

**P-funk** · 11-02-2005, 08:07 PM

front squats are the shiat!!

I rarely ever push max lifts on my back squats anymore. I choose to do all my strength work with my front squat.

Yanick · 11-03-2005, 12:36 AM

who front squats one thousand pounds?

**P-funk** · 11-03-2005, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yanick

who front squats one thousand pounds?

I was wondering the same thing.

The Monkey Man · 11-03-2005, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swordfish

I'll bet you money that someone that can ATG back squat- 400x10 has bigger legs than someone that can do a front squat of 300x10

Hey some of that shit you are smoking must be pretty good...

Send me a sample of your crack stones -

BritChick · 11-03-2005, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDyl

I agree.

Me too.

The Monkey Man · 11-03-2005, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BritChick

Me too.

You just don't like ATG, schtick -

Nate K · 11-03-2005, 07:40 AM

Front squats are the shit. I tend to try and not worry about the weight with them and go DEEP. I'm getting excited just typing about it.

**CowPimp** · 11-03-2005, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squaggleboggin

I still disagree. The fact that you can use more weight means nothing. You can use even more weight for the leg press than for the back squat, right? So, using that logic, the leg press would be king.

This has come up before, and you have to remember that although you move more mass with the leg press, you don't necessarily move more weight, which are two separate things. Most leg press sleds sit on about a 45 degree angle, or even a bit less. This means that you are really only pushing about 70% of what is actually on the sled (You have to take the cosine of 45 degrees). You also have to consider that you are also moving your bodyweight during a squat, almost all of it.

My take on the front squat vs. back squat debate is that it is a pointless debate. No exercise is better per se; it depends on what your goals are. If you are a powerlifter, then back squats are king. If you are an olympic lifter, then front squats are king. If you are a bodybuilder, then both are useful training tools.

**P-funk** · 11-03-2005, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowPimp

This has come up before, and you have to remember that although you move more mass with the leg press, you don't necessarily move more weight, which are two separate things. Most leg press sleds sit on about a 45 degree angle, or even a bit less. This means that you are really only pushing about 70% of what is actually on the sled (You have to take the cosine of 45 degrees). You also have to consider that you are also moving your bodyweight during a squat, almost all of it.

Also, just to go along with that, you would have to look at the two people squating. Physics will play a role in how much weight (force inches) are actually being moved. Things like femur length, torso length, ROM, where you set the bar, the distance the bar moves etc...will all play into this debate.

Tough Old Man · 11-03-2005, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P-funk

Also, just to go along with that, you would have to look at the two people squating. Physics will play a role in how much weight (force inches) are actually being moved. Things like femur length, torso length, ROM, where you set the bar, the distance the bar moves etc...will all play into this debate.

LOL I feel like i need to go back to school after this and re take algebra again

BigDyl · 11-03-2005, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BritChick

Me too.

I agree with you and BigBadWolf... perhaps we should get together and discuss other things we agree on... who knows what could happen from there...

BritChick · 11-03-2005, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monkey Man

You just don't like ATG, schtick -

I do both... just Smith Machine not BB - Patrick's favourite!

Stretch · 11-03-2005, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The13ig13adWolf

they're scared...

It's cool. That leaves the squat rack open for me.

Yanick · 11-03-2005, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squaggleboggin

I'm not talking about size though - strictly strength. Of course, if someone can do 100 pounds more for one exercise than the other, you'd expect them ot be bigger. Use equal poundages, though, and the person who can front squat 400 is probably much stronger than the one who can back squat 400. Look at the olympic lifters. Some of them can front squat close to 1,000 and can probably do a raw back squat ATG more than just about any powerlifters. They have some real power, and it's from training the front squat.

your forgetting one big thing though. the guy who can front squat 400 will also be able to back squat a hell of a lot more than 400 lbs. Hell i can back squat ATG, 400x2 but i doubt i would even be able to hold 400lbs in the rack position let alone front squat it!

saying that Oly lifters get all their power from front squatting is just plain ri

11-02-2005, 05:04 PM	#1
Stretch [][]---------[][] Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 47	Front Loaded Squats I'm kinda new to these, and I love 'em. I never see many people in the gym do squats this way. Not many people in my gym do squats anyway, it's mostly college guys doing curls-for-girls. But is there a reason why they are not more popular?

11-02-2005, 05:43 PM	#2
The13ig13adWolf IM Ball Buster Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: I win... Posts: 1,367	they're scared...
	Some people get lost in thought because it's such unfamiliar territory. -G. Behn

11-02-2005, 06:42 PM	#6
cider303 go big or go home Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mass/Conn Posts: 139 Photos: 2	everytime i do hack squats i end up on my ass
	Pain is temporary. Pride is forever.

11-02-2005, 08:07 PM	#14
P-funk Patrick Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: AZ Posts: 30,625	front squats are the shiat!! I rarely ever push max lifts on my back squats anymore. I choose to do all my strength work with my front squat.
	http://pwtraining.blogspot.com/.....come and see what is on my mind! Ivonne's Blog on Health and Wellness! Optimum Sports Performance "In the beginners mind there are many possibilities, in the experts there are few." -Buddha's Little Instruction Book

11-03-2005, 12:36 AM	#15
Yanick Amor Fati Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,798	who front squats one thousand pounds?
Yanick Amor Fati Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 3,798	"...we have to remember that training is a complicated dance of stimuli and response. Our goal is to understand how to manipulate the stimuli in order to evoke the responses we desire." -Nathan J. Polenchek

11-02-2005, 08:00 PM	#11
ihateschoolmt Senior Member Elite Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,796 Photos: 10	Front squats work your whole body better. Back squats work your legs better.

11-03-2005, 07:40 AM	#20
Nate K Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,679 Photos: 3	Front squats are the shit. I tend to try and not worry about the weight with them and go DEEP. I'm getting excited just typing about it.