Front Squat Question

[Gladiola]

OK - tried the clean grip on at least 2 occasions now - indeed, it felt like I was trying to cut off my own head with the bar.

Maybe I AM lacking flexibility in my forearms - although I never thought so. I do my yoga class at least 1X per week.

I could NOT get my elbows as high as my shoulders comfortably. Is it OK if the bar rolls back a bit so it is resting more on my fingers than my palm? I think that would make it much easier - so my wrists could be positioned higher as well.

That bar up there in the clean grip just felt so awkward that I couldn't squat well!

 

[strong island]

I LOVE front squats. And I never see anyone doing them at my gym.

The great benefit of the front squat is that you can keep your upper body more perpendicular to the ground which emphasizes the quads and takes a lot of stress off the lower back.

Bring a towel and wrap it around the bar to help with the discomfort the bar may cause.

 

[Arioch]

OK - tried the clean grip on at least 2 occasions now - indeed, it felt like I was trying to cut off my own head with the bar.

You were doing it right.

Maybe I AM lacking flexibility in my forearms - although I never thought so. I do my yoga class at least 1X per week.

Big difference between general and sport-specific flexibility. Have your training partnet push up on your elbows - within reason - at the end of the last set. Hold for 15 - 20 seconds.

I could NOT get my elbows as high as my shoulders comfortably. Is it OK if the bar rolls back a bit so it is resting more on my fingers than my palm? I think that would make it much easier - so my wrists could be positioned higher as well.

This is fine. It is only supported by the first three fingers of each hand when I front squat. Ideally, you will push back with the palms of your hands. But this level of flexibility will take time to develop. Your arms are reasonably short, so this is to your advantage.

That bar up there in the clean grip just felt so awkward that I couldn't squat well!

This is the hardest part about learning to front squat properly. A certain few people can do it naturally. No one likes them.

Do not put a towel or anything else between you and the bar. This increases the chance of it slipping. Not only that, but if you truly wish to work on cleans, you need to get used to it.

 

[edgecrusher]

Front squats are no doubt, one of my favorite leg exercises. When doing them, I tend to tilt me head up on an angle, this seems to keep my back in a correct position.

Nextly, I always use a clean grip, (partly because i was into olympic lifting for a while.) and also because it just seems very natural. I find when I go heavy with these, I really don't even need to try to balance the bar, it just sits right in the groove of my front delt.