Thread: How low can you go

Totally depends on the weight IMO.

At lighter weights (225-315) I'll go that low, but at higher weights I think it causes unecessary stress. Even with wraps I wouldnt recommend it. 90 degrees or just a tad lower is all I recommend for the heavier weights.

Eggs

You only need to go to 90 or just past; ass to the grass isn’t necessary for good leg development and can lead to injury.
Why bother doing something if no good is gonna come out of it.

I used to go to 90. When I started to go below 90 my quads started growing again. I guess what ever works for you. My legs seem to respond better to higher reps.

Scotty that's not true.

The length of my thighs in relation to my upper body and legs prevent me from going ATF - the mechanics just don't work - especially since i have poor ankle flexibilty. I can only go to parallel, although i'd love to do ATF.

There is nothing to say that ATF squats have higher affinity for injury, in fact i'd say that the opposite is probably more true.

either way, as long as people are squatting and they aren't 1/4 squats, then it's all good...

If it does not bother your knees then go deep.

You'll have some balance issues. Depending on where you have the bar and how much weight you put on it. If you do full squats and do not have proper balance, you will more than likely lean onto your toes. Very bad for the back. So in my opinion, you should go as far below parallel as you can and still be able to push up with your heals.

Originally posted by The_Chicken_Daddy
Scotty that's not true.

The length of my thighs in relation to my upper body and legs prevent me from going ATF - the mechanics just don't work - especially since i have poor ankle flexibilty. I can only go to parallel, although i'd love to do ATF.

There is nothing to say that ATF squats have higher affinity for injury, in fact i'd say that the opposite is probably more true.

either way, as long as people are squatting and they aren't 1/4 squats, then it's all good...

OK, so I'm a liar now, where's my kiss???

K I think I might have the same problem as you with the thighs relation to upper body cause I can't even to ATF with little to no weight right.

For the balance thing when going deep do you find it better to lift your heels on a 10lb plate?

Ass to the floor will use more ham and glute. So if you have the tendancy to have a big ass then just go to 90deg.

I don;t agree with elevating the heels for squats. It puts the quad in a stronger position, but also the hamstring in a weaker position which has a tendancy towards injury, not to mention than it causes more sheer in the knee.

Scotty, yeah me either. I probably could on the smith, but then again, I am anti-smith.

Fade, i'm proud of my squat ass

Depends on the goal.

If I want to hit the hams and glutes, I take a wide stance and go to parallel. If quads are more the target, I take shoulder-width or a tad wider and go to the floor.

I do not believe in elevating heels either. Nor do I believe in a wide stance, not for bodybuilding anyway.

I think going deep is fine as long as it does not bother your knees, it does some poeple.

Originally posted by ActionMatt
Depends on the goal.

If I want to hit the hams and glutes, I take a wide stance and go to parallel. If quads are more the target, I take shoulder-width or a tad wider and go to the floor.

ditto AM..thats about what i do

For me in the pass I didn't think I could go below parrell due to balance. When I picked a spot on the wall above eye level and focus the balance kicked in and I was able to go ATF. Worth a try on next squat session I guess.

I've always gone "ass-to-the-grass" and have never had any problems. Recently I had a hamstring injury, and when I healed enough to try squats, I did a couple of workouts to almost parallell with light weights. Now my knees are sore as hell, and one is giving off a popping, grinding sound. Damned if I know what's up, but I think I'll rest for a couple of weeks and give a2g a try.

I had really bad tendinitis in my knees and in high school I was in the advanced pe class with all the football players and they had us go parallel to floor which ultimately aggravated my knees and I was almost forced to stop doing them because of the pain. Now, I am very leary of any squats because Im afraid I will re-injure my knees.

I only go aas low as necessary for powerlifting comps... unless im doing a box-squat day, then its a little lower